South American Sapote Tree (Zapote Colombiano)

About the South American Sapote Tree (Zapote Colombiano)

Known as chupa-chupa in its Amazonian homeland, this sapote bears round, olive-green fruit with soft, fibrous, bright-orange flesh that tastes sweet and mildly fruity, often compared to a blend of mango, melon and pumpkin. It is eaten fresh by sucking the pulp from the large seeds, or blended into juice. The tree is a handsome, tiered grower with big heart-shaped leaves, and its flowers appear directly on the branches. It thrives in hot, humid lowlands with year-round moisture, such as Chiapas, Tabasco and Veracruz. Grown on our farms in Yucatán and Chiapas and shipped via DHL.

How to Care for It

Plant in full sun in deep, fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry months; mulch well. Feed with compost and a balanced fertiliser two or three times a year while the tree establishes. It is frost-sensitive: shelter young trees from cold snaps near freezing. Prune lightly to remove weak branches; the natural tiered shape needs little training.

Grow fruit most people have never tasted. Our exotic fruit trees, from Monthong durian and Emperor lychee to jaboticaba, achachairú and red finger lime, are raised on our farms in Yucatán and Chiapas and shipped by DHL across Mexico. Most love heat and humidity; several do beautifully in large pots.

Growing Profile

Botanical name

Matisia cordata

Family

Malvaceae

Native to

Western Amazon (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil)

Mature height

10–20 m

Plant spacing

10 m

Years to first fruit

5–8 years

Light

Full sun

Water

High, keep moist

Cold tolerance

down to 2 °C

Best climates

Humid tropics

Grows in a pot

Best in the ground

Ships from

Our farms in Yucatán & Chiapas