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Pouteria sapota
Sapotaceae FAMILY

Pouteria sapota

Pouteria sapota

Edibility
4/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

The seed has stupefying properties, and this may be due to its HCN content[1]. One is cautioned not to rub the eyes after handling the green fruit because of the sap exuding from the cut or broken stalk[1]. The milky sap of the tree is highly irritant to the eyes and caustic and vesicant on the skin[1]. The leaves are reportedly poisonous[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Tree
GrowthMedium

It can succeed in the lowland moist tropics or subtropics up to elevations of 1,400 metres[1]. In its native range, the average temperature ranges between 25 and 28°c, though good yields and fruit quality can be obtained at temperatures between 30 and 33°c[1]. It is very intolerant of low temperatures, being quickly damaged or killed if temperatures drop much below 2°c[1]. It grows well in areas where the mean annual rainfall varies from 800 - 2,500mm[1]. It is very susceptible to drought[2]. It grows well in maritime areas, where it shows good wind resistance[2]. Prefers a rich, deep, moist soil and a position in full sun[3]. Tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils[2]. Requires a very well-drained soil[2]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5 - 7[2]. Seedling trees begin to bear fruit after 7 years or longer, whilst grafted trees begin to bear in 3 to 5 years[1]. It takes from 13 - 24 months for fruit to reach maturity and so trees may have flowers, immature fruit and mature fruit all at the same time[1]. The sapote is a very prolific cropper, mature trees may bear 200 to 500 fruit per year, whilst twice this amount may be obtained from large trees[1]. There are some named varieties[2, 4].

Propagation

Seed - remove it from its husk before sowing[2]. The seed has a short viability of only 7 - 14 days[1]. Seeds should be collected from mature fruit and planted immediately in well-drained media[1]. Seeds which have a hairline crack in the seed coat appear to germinate more quickly[1]. Side-grafting. Air-layering may be possible[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pouteria+sapota>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. — Barwick. M. · Thames & Hudson, London · 2004 · ISBN 0-500-51181-0 ↩︎A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
  4. [4]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  5. [5]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
  6. [6]Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory — Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M. · U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service · 1987 ↩︎A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
  7. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎