Black sapote.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Tropical fruit tree

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

25 to 50 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Medio

Rusticidad

USDA 10 a 12

Floración

Late spring to early summer

Cuidados

Keep the soil consistently moist but ensure it drains well to prevent root issues. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the tree needs more nutrients or better drainage. Protect the plant from frost, as it is quite sensitive to cold temperatures.

Riego

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Abonado

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season to support fruit production.

Poda

Prune lightly once a year to maintain shape and encourage better airflow through the canopy.

Trasplante

Move to a larger container only when the roots begin to circle the bottom of the pot.

Suelo

Rich, loamy, well draining soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.0

Temperatura

5 a 35°C

Humedad

60 a 90%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Moderada

Longevidad

Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years

Fragancia

Suave

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is generally non-toxic, but the unripe fruit is astringent and can irritate the mouth.

Niños

The large seeds pose a choking hazard to small children if ingested.

Alérgenos por contacto

The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

Pollen may cause mild seasonal allergies for some people.

Comestibilidad

The fruit is only safe to eat when fully ripe and soft, as unripe fruit contains high levels of tannins that can cause digestive distress.

Cómo identificarla

• Glossy, dark green evergreen leaves
• Small, white, bell shaped flowers
• Round, olive green fruit skin
• Dark brown to black edible pulp

Altura

6 a 15m

Anchura

4 a 10m

Hojas

dark green, glossy, evergreen

Flores

white, cream, 1 a 2cm

Frutos

green, black, Autumn to winter

Problemas frecuentes

• Mealybugs — Small sap-sucking insects that cluster on stems and leaf undersides.
• Leaf spot — Fungal infection causing dark spots on foliage during humid periods.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, grafting

Cuándo plantar

spring, early summer

Cuidados en invierno

Keep the plant in a frost-free environment if temperatures drop below freezing. Reduce watering during the cooler months.

En maceta

It can be grown in a large container when young, but eventually requires a very large pot or planting in the ground.

Plant in a sheltered area protected from strong winds to prevent branch breakage.

Buenas compañeras

• Cafeto — They share similar tropical requirements and can be grown together in shaded orchard settings.
• Papaya — These plants occupy different vertical layers in a food forest.

Especies parecidas

• Japanese Persimmon — A related species grown for its orange, sweet fruit.

Ciencia

Familia

Ebenaceae

Género

Diospyros

Orden

Ericales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Mexico and Central America.

Conservación

Not currently considered threatened in its native range.

It thrives in tropical lowland forests where it benefits from consistent moisture and warm temperatures.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source, provides shelter for birds

Polinizadores

abejas, escarabajos

Usos

ornamental shade tree, culinary fruit, pudding ingredient

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

How do I know when the fruit is ripe?

The skin turns from a shiny green to a dull, olive green, and the fruit becomes very soft to the touch.

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it produces the best fruit when grown in full sun.

De dónde viene el nombre

Diospyros comes from Greek words meaning divine fruit, while nigra refers to the dark color of the ripe fruit pulp.

Bueno saberlo

• The fruit is commonly known as black sapote or chocolate pudding fruit.
• It belongs to the same genus as the common persimmon.
• The wood is extremely dense and related to ebony.
• It can produce hundreds of fruits on a single mature tree.