Bonita Springs - Our favorite cultivar thus far, the ‘Bonita Springs’ White Sapote makes a great tasting, very sweet fruit, and the tree is relatively compact.  Compared to the other varieties we grow, our Bonita Springs trees have been consistently more bushy— it might be worth calling this variety a dwarf or at least semi-dwarf White Sapote.

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Latin name - Casimiroa edulis

White Sapote is one of our favorite lesser-known fruits, and lately it’s been surging in popularity!  Still relatively unheard of, White Sapote is native to central Mexico and was introduced to California in the early 1800s.  It’s a distant relative of citrus fruits, but tastes nothing like them– the flavor to us is comparable to vanilla pudding, with hints of pear and banana, and occasionally a slight caramel flavor.  Ripe White Sapote fruits are a true delicacy, ripening through summertime in Florida.

White Sapote trees are cold hardy, down to 26º F.  They are slow growing at first, but can eventually reach a mature size of 20 feet, although for management and fruit production we recommend pruning them annually to keep the size at around 10-12 feet.  For those looking to add a rare delicacy to their food forest, you won’t regret planting a White Sapote tree!

Size: 15’ - 40’ tall, benefits from regular pruning

Sun Requirements: Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Cold Hardy: Zones 9-11

Harvest Season: Late summer through fall

Watering requirements: Regular deep watering until established

Food Forest Layer: Overstory or canopy