Sansapote Live Plant (Licania platypus)

Sansapote is a moderately large, deciduous forest tree with a straight cylindrical bole that can range in height from 10 - 30 metres, occasionally as much as 50 metres tall. Native to Northern S. America - Colombia; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico. The plant is harvested from the wild for its edible fruits, which are sometimes sold in local markets. It is a popular fruit in pre-Colombian times, but much less important at the present time. It is much planted as an ornamental and shade tree throughout Central America. The fruit is a large, spherical, berry, greenish-brown then yellow, with lenticels. When ripe, the flesh smells like fresh pumpkin.  The yellow, granular flesh is juicy and sweet and the fruit varies in size, with some specimens reported to be 20cm long and 14cm in diameter.

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

Botanical Name: Licania platypus

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 4 to 6 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate