Sapodilla Tree 'Brown Sugar’

'Brown Sugar’ may describe the flavor of just about every sapodilla (except for seed-grown trees which can taste like bandaids)…. Nonetheless, ‘Brown Sugar’ is its own unique cultivar, originating in Homestead, FL in the late 1940s. Its flavor is intensely sweet, rich, and fragrant. The fruit is medium-large and has some grit— the gritty texture is mostly unfavored, but some people prefer it. Our friend Paul Nison has a tree and says he enjoys the texture, naming ‘Brown Sugar’ his favorite Sapodilla cultivar. This tree is a vigorous upright grower. ___________________________________________________________________________ Latin name - Manilkara zapota This fruit has often been described as a “brown sugar pear” due to its sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The Sapodilla tree is one of our absolute favorite fruit trees, and we believe it’s an underrated choice for Florida yards. One of the hardiest fruit trees we grow, Sapodilla is drought tolerant, wind resistant, and salt tolerant, making it a great candidate for coastal and inland areas alike. There are several “dwarf” varieties with compact growth, which can be planted in tight spaces and maintained almost as a bush. Other types are more vigorous and upright, and can make an impressive canopy tree. The tree itself is attractive, with beautiful, glossy green leaves. Sapodilla flowers are inconspicuous, small and bell shaped with white petals. The fruit can take 6-9 months to develop and mature, and is picked when slightly soft or when the skin appears smooth. We love to eat them fresh, but many delicious desserts can also be made– sapodilla pie anyone? We recently tried freeze-dried sapodilla, and it’s amazing! It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy Sapodilla fruit. Commercially they are often grown in Mexico, but Sapodilla trees can be found throughout the world in commercial farms and backyards alike. Plant your Sapodilla tree in full sun, with well draining soil. The tree is drought tolerant and not fussy about soil type, but supplemental watering and fertilization can produce strong, lush growth and fruit production. Sapodilla has an open, spreading canopy and responds well to pruning. A fun fact about Sapodilla is that its sticky sap, called “chicle”, is the original source of chewing gum. Remember Chiclets? They were originally made with Sapodilla sap! Sapodilla fruit is rich in tannins (polyphenols which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties) as well as vitamin C to boost the immune system. Sapodilla trees bloom year round and fruit can be harvested almost any time of year, but is most concentrated in spring and summer. ___________________________________________________________________________ Size: Can grow up to 40-50 feet, but manageable at 12-15 feet with pruning. Sun Requirements: Full sun Cold Hardy: 30 degrees Harvest Season: Spring/Summer Watering requirements: Drought tolerant once established. Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub Canopy