Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota)

For Europeans the term sapodilla At first it may not sound like anything to us, but when they tell us that it is the gum tree, things change. And it is that, who has not put some in the mouth more than once?

Although it is tropical, which means that it is a plant that cannot be grown outside unless you live in an area without frost, it is interesting to meet him. So let's go.

Origin and characteristics

El chicozapote, whose scientific name is Manilkara zapota, it is an evergreen tree native to Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America. Popularly it is also known as acana or gum. Reaches a height of 25 to 35 meters with a diameter of up to 1,25m. The leaves are arranged in a spiral, and are simple, with an elliptical to oblong shape, and the entire margin.

The trunk is straight, with the fissured bark forming rectangular pieces that exude sticky white sap, with a bitter and astringent taste. The flowers are solitary, aromatic, white. The fruit is a berry 5-10cm in diameter, with a brown skin and a fleshy, sweet pulp. Inside we find 5 shiny black seeds.

What are their cares?

If you live in a warm area and want to have a specimen in your garden, we recommend providing the following care:

• Location: outdoors, in full sun or in semi-shade.
• Earth: fertile, with good drainage.
• Irrigation: 4-5 times a week during the hottest season, and slightly less the rest of the year.
• Subscriber: pay with ecological fertilizers once a month.
• Multiplication: by seeds.
• Rusticity: does not support frost. The minimum temperature it supports is 15ºC.

What uses does it have?

Apart from being used as an ornamental, the sap is extracted from its trunk to make gum. But also can be used as medicinal since the compounds extracted from the leaves have antidiabetic, antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic effects.

What did you think of the sapodilla?