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Other Names: Chocolate Sapote, Chocolate Pudding Fruit, Zapote Negro
Related To:
[Ebanaceae] Mabolo, Persimmon
Main Uses:
Fruit, Ornamental
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Mature Height/Spread:
Large trees can grow to 80 feet and have a large, round, wide canopy.
Flowering/Pollination:
1/2" Stout and round, smelling faintly of gardenia.
Tolerance:
Little tolerance for salt, moderate tolerance of drought.
Soil/Nutrition:
Widely tolerant.
Light:
Full sun.
Wind:
Tree seems fairly sturdy.
Temperature:
When trees become established they can withstand brief frosts, but are damaged by prolonged temperatures below 32 degrees.
Dangers:
None.
Diseases Prone:
Bearing Age:
Seedlings reach bearing age in 5-6 years.
Fruit:
Fruit are often picked at their firm green stage, and allowed to ripen at room temperature. The fruit has different consistency at different phases of ripening. The first stage is when the flesh is brown and creamy, the skin of the fruit discolored but dull green. The second stage is when the fruit skin is brown, the interior flesh black and creamy, but not yet very juicy. The final stage is when the fruit turns black, begins to seep, and the general taste becomes most fruit-like.
History/Origin:
Native to southern Mexico where the fruit is sometimes grown and marketed. Even in its native land, however, it is a relatively minor fruit.
Species Observations:
Tree will be slow growing when soil is not ideal. This species responds well to mulching, especially with animal manures, and is capable of growing at a good pace is well tended.
Propogation:
Black sapote is most commonly propagated by seeds, as the taste of the fruit does not vary much from one tree to the next. Seed propagation is very easy; they sometimes even germinate while still inside the ripe fruit. Black sapotes are also propagated by layering and by grafting.
Recommended Cultivars: A few cultivars are known; most are of a large fruit size or low seed content.
"Bernecker" Has a large fruit with few seeds.
"Black Beauty" is a cultivar common in south Florida, and is prolific bearer of large fruits.
"Cuevas Seedless" Is, obviously, a seedless selection.
Container Culture:
Can be grown in a container and kept to a certain size. It is a handsome specimen tree, which will bear fruit in a 25 gallon container.
Medicinal Uses:
Unknown.
Nutritional Information:
Vitamin C content per single fruit is about twice that of a medium navel orange. Also a good source of phosphorus.
Preparation / Food:
Fruits are used in recipes in a manner similar to chocolate. Mousse, cake, and ice creams are often made from the ripe fruits. Some people like to eat the fruit raw, which is an acquired experience given the uninviting appearance of the flesh.
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"Tree is in fine shape and budding! Packing was exceptional. Thank you so much!"
- Satisfied Customer 1
"WOW, Plant is 10X better than expected. Great condition. Thank you very much."
- Satisfied Customer 2
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