Chico Sapote 'Morena'
Manilkara zapota
“'Actually flowered this year.' Still early in the trial.”
Background
Morena is a Mexican sapodilla/chico sapote cultivar listed in the International Tropical Fruits Network cultivar table as originating from Mexico. Beyond that table and nursery listings, published background is thin, which is typical for Mexican landrace selections that circulate mainly through specialty nurseries. It is a real, documented cultivar, not a nursery-invented name. The UA arboretum notes sapodilla was domesticated in pre-Columbian times, and its latex, chicle, was the original chewing gum.
Distinguishing traits
Oval fruit, medium to medium-large (roughly 6-14 oz depending on source), with smooth brownish-red pulp rated very good to excellent; February-April season. Reported by growers as an extremely heavy producer at maturity; self-pollinating. The UA arboretum describes sapodilla as a large, slow-growing evergreen with a dense pyramidal crown and dark glossy leaves clustered at the shoot tips.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- None.
- Cold hardiness
- Zone 9-11; listed hardiness around 25-32°F, so brief 9b freezes are survivable with protection. Young trees need frost cover.
- Heat tolerance
- Good heat tolerance once established; one of the more desert-viable tropical fruit trees, but young trees appreciate afternoon shade during extreme heat. The UA arboretum notes mature trees tolerate brief dips to 26°F, but heat above 105°F can reduce fruit yield.
- Water
- Regular deep watering in heat; drought-tolerant once established but fruit production drops without supplemental water in dry spells. The UA arboretum rates water use as low, though it notes fruit yield improves with watering during dry spells.
- Soil
- Excellent drainage required; slightly acidic pH around 5.0-6.0 preferred.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun.
Where to buy
- Utopia Trees