Sapodilla — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Manilkara zapota |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–30 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 23.9–32.2 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 1460–2920 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 609.6–914.4 |
| Mature height (cm) | 914.4–1828.8 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 609.6–914.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 10–12 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Transplant |
Growing directions
Plant in well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil — including sandy, rocky, and calcareous soils — in full sun in zones 10–12; sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is a long-lived, slow-growing Mesoamerican tree that ranks among the most drought- and wind-tolerant of all tropical fruit trees, making it exceptionally well adapted to South Florida's coastal sandy soils, salt air, and seasonal dry periods. The small to medium-sized, rough brown-skinned fruits reveal a translucent, grainy, caramel-brown flesh of extraordinary sweetness — often described as tasting of brown sugar, pear, and malt — that must be fully ripe and soft before eating, as unripe fruits are astringent from tannins. Grafted trees of selections such as 'Prolific' and 'Tikal' begin bearing in 4–6 years; seedling trees may take 8 years or more. The tree also has historical industrial significance as the source of chicle, the natural latex once used as the base of chewing gum, harvested by the Mesoamerican chiclero tradition for centuries.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · manilkara-zapota
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0