Sansapote Live Plant (Licania platypus)

A moderately sized, deciduous forest tree with a straight, cylindrical bole, the sansapote can grow to a height of 10 to 30 metres and, on rare occasions, as high as 50 metres. Native to southern Mexico and northern Central America as well as northern South America’s Colombia. The shrub is taken out of the wild and used for its edible fruits, which are occasionally offered for sale in nearby markets. In pre-Colombian periods, it was a common fruit, but it is now considerably less significant. In Central America, it is widely planted as an ornamental and shade tree. The fruit is a sizable, spherical berry with lenticels that first turns greenish-brown and then yellow. The flesh has a fresh pumpkin aroma when fully ripe. The fruit varies in size, with some specimens reportedly measuring 20 cm long and 14 cm in diameter. The golden, granular flesh is delicious and sweet.

Common Name: Sunzapote, zapote cabello, chupa, cabeza de mico

Botanical Name: Licania platypus

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 4 to 6 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate