Canistel Tree Bundle: 'Trompo' & 'Bruce'
Regular price $239.90 Sale price $203.92The Ultimate Pair of Grafted Canistels
Experience the rich, custard-like flavors of two premium canistel varieties with Sow Exotic’s Canistel Tree Bundle, featuring the highly prized Trompo and Bruce varieties. These grafted trees, standing 3-5 feet tall, are mature and capable of flowering and fruiting now, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the unique flavors of canistel, also known as "eggfruit," in your home garden. Both varieties are known for their creamy texture and sweet flavor, making them perfect for fresh eating, smoothies, or desserts.
Trompo Canistel
Origin: Central America
Flavor Profile: Trompo Canistel is renowned for its rich, creamy, and sweet yellow-orange flesh. The fruit has a dense, custard-like texture that is reminiscent of cooked egg yolk, earning it the nickname "eggfruit." Trompo produces large, pear-shaped fruits with minimal seeds, making it one of the most desirable varieties for fresh eating or using in smoothies and desserts.
Growth Habit: Trompo is a fast-growing, compact tree that adapts well to tropical and subtropical climates. It produces abundant fruit with proper care and is highly prized for its consistent yields and manageable size, making it ideal for home gardens.
Bruce Canistel
Origin: Florida
Flavor Profile: Bruce Canistel offers a similarly sweet, dense, and custard-like flesh, but with a slightly different flavor profile than Trompo. Bruce fruits are smaller and rounder, and the flesh is silky smooth, with a rich, sweet flavor that makes it perfect for blending into custard-like desserts or enjoying fresh. Bruce is known for its outstanding texture and flavor.
Growth Habit: Bruce is a vigorous grower that thrives in warm climates and produces reliable harvests. Its compact growth habit and consistent fruiting make it a great addition to both small and large gardens.
Bundle Highlights
- Tree Size: Both Trompo and Bruce canistel trees are grafted and stand 3-5 feet tall, offering a more manageable size and quicker fruit production compared to seed-grown trees.
- Ready to Flower and Fruit: These grafted trees are mature enough to flower and fruit now, so you won’t have to wait years to enjoy your first harvest of delicious canistel.
- Premium Varieties: The Trompo and Bruce varieties are two of the most popular canistel cultivars due to their creamy, sweet flavor and custard-like texture.
Growing Information
Both canistel trees in this bundle thrive in USDA zones 9-11 and require full sun and well-draining soil for optimal growth and fruit production. These tropical trees prefer warm temperatures and are drought-tolerant once established. Plant them in a sunny, sheltered spot with protection from strong winds. Regular watering, especially during the flowering and fruiting stages, will encourage healthy growth and development. A balanced fertilizer applied during the growing season will help the trees thrive and produce an abundance of fruit.
Why Choose the Canistel Tree Bundle?
This Canistel Tree Bundle brings together two of the most sought-after varieties—Trompo and Bruce—offering you a delightful range of flavor and texture. With their custard-like, sweet flesh and creamy consistency, these canistels are perfect for fresh eating, blending into smoothies, or creating unique desserts. Both trees are grafted and capable of fruiting now, so you can start enjoying your homegrown canistel much sooner.
Quick Care Guide
| Plant Type | Perennial Fruit Tree |
| Harvest Season | Late Fall to Winter |
| Mature Size | 15-30 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide |
| Soil & Moisture | Well-draining, sandy loam soil; moderate watering with good drainage |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Zone Hardiness | Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection until well-established; Patio/Greenhouse 4+ |
| Propagation | Our Canistels are grafted and capable of fruiting now. |
Full Growing Guide
Climate and Soil Requirements
- Climate: Bruce Canistel thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is best suited for USDA hardiness zones 9-11. The tree prefers warm temperatures and can tolerate brief periods of cooler weather, but it is sensitive to frost. In slightly cooler regions, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors or into a greenhouse during colder months.
- Soil: Prefers well-draining, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.0). The tree benefits from soil enriched with organic matter, such as compost, to improve fertility and water retention while ensuring good drainage to prevent root rot.
Planting
- Location: Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Bruce Canistel performs best in full sun, which is essential for vigorous growth and abundant fruit production.
- Soil Preparation: Prepare the soil by tilling and adding compost or organic matter to enhance fertility and drainage.
- Planting Time: Plant in the spring after the last frost, when the soil has warmed up. If planting in containers, ensure the pot is large enough to accommodate the tree’s growth and has adequate drainage.
- Spacing: Space trees 15-25 feet apart to allow adequate room for growth and air circulation.
Watering
- Consistent Moisture: Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Bruce Canistel requires moderate watering, especially during the growing season. Ensure the soil remains evenly moist, but avoid overwatering.
- Mulching: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Sunlight and Fertilizing
- Full Sun: Ensure the tree receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to promote healthy growth and fruiting. Supplement with additional nutrients such as potassium and magnesium, which are important for fruit development. Fertilize every 6-8 weeks during the growing season for best results.
Pruning and Maintenance
- Routine Pruning: Prune the tree in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and to shape the tree. Regular pruning helps to maintain a manageable size and promotes better air circulation and light penetration.
- Maintenance: Bruce Canistel is relatively low-maintenance once established. Keep the area around the tree clear of weeds and debris to prevent pests and diseases.
Pest and Disease Management
- Common Pests: Monitor for pests such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control infestations.
- Diseases: Bruce Canistel is relatively disease-resistant, but it’s important to watch for signs of root rot and leaf spot. Ensure proper spacing, good air circulation, and avoid overwatering to reduce disease risk.
Harvesting Fruit
- When to Harvest: Bruce Canistel fruits typically ripen from late fall to winter. The fruit is ready to pick when it reaches full size and the skin turns bright yellow. The flesh should be soft to the touch but not mushy.
- How to Harvest: Gently twist or cut the fruit from the tree. Allow the fruit to ripen at room temperature if needed. Enjoy the fruit fresh, in smoothies, or incorporated into desserts.
Plant Type:
Tropical/Subtropical Evergreen Fruit Tree
Harvest Season:
Winter, Spring, Year-round
Typically December - March (sub-tropics) but varies slightly based on variety. Some cultivars even fruit year-round! Canistel fruit should be harvested when it turns yellow-orange. Allowing fruit 3 to 10 days to ripen at room temperature (76–82°F; 24–28°C). Ripe fruit is soft but not mushy.
Mature Size:
15-30 ft.
Will grow well in a container as long as you provide enough space for root growth. .
Soil & Moisture:
Well-draining, sandy, soil rich in organic matter. Likes consistent watering especially during flower and fruiting but is completely intolerant of flooding.
Light Requirements:
Full Sun (highest production), Part Shade
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Fast, Medium
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection; Patio/Greenhouse 4+.
If taking on the task of growing this tropical fruit tree in colder climates, can be dwarfed with the right amount of commitment and can be overwintered indoors. During the coldest winter in the last ten years, the Canistel's planted in our food forest survived severe damage at 24 degrees, growing back from the base and are back to fruiting!
Propagation:
Large Pot Size: Grafted and capable of producing fruit within 2-3 years.
X-Large Pot Size: Grafted and capable of producing fruit within 1-2 years.
See More:Shop all of our Canistel varieties.
Shop all of our Pouteria varieties.
Quick Care Guide
| Plant Type | Perennial Fruit Tree |
| Harvest Season | Late Fall to Winter |
| Mature Size | 15-30 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide |
| Soil & Moisture | Well-draining, sandy loam soil; moderate watering with good drainage |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Zone Hardiness | Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection until well-established; Patio/Greenhouse 4+ |
| Propagation | Our Canistels are grafted and capable of fruiting now. |
Full Growing Guide
Climate and Soil Requirements
- Climate: Trompo Canistel thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is best suited for USDA hardiness zones 10-11. The tree prefers warm temperatures and can tolerate brief periods of cooler weather, but it is sensitive to frost. In slightly cooler regions, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors or into a greenhouse during colder months.
- Soil: Prefers well-draining, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.0). The tree benefits from soil enriched with organic matter, such as compost, to improve fertility and water retention while ensuring good drainage to prevent root rot.
Planting
- Location: Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Trompo Canistel performs best in full sun, which is essential for vigorous growth and abundant fruit production.
- Soil Preparation: Prepare the soil by tilling and adding compost or organic matter to enhance fertility and drainage.
- Planting Time: Plant in the spring after the last frost, when the soil has warmed up. If planting in containers, ensure the pot is large enough to accommodate the tree’s growth and has adequate drainage.
- Spacing: Space trees 15-25 feet apart to allow adequate room for growth and air circulation.
Watering
- Consistent Moisture: Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Trompo Canistel requires moderate watering, especially during the growing season. Ensure the soil remains evenly moist, but avoid overwatering.
- Mulching: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Sunlight and Fertilizing
- Full Sun: Ensure the tree receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to promote healthy growth and fruiting. Supplement with additional nutrients such as potassium and magnesium, which are important for fruit development. Fertilize every 6-8 weeks during the growing season for best results.
Pruning and Maintenance
- Routine Pruning: Prune the tree in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and to shape the tree. Regular pruning helps to maintain a manageable size and promotes better air circulation and light penetration.
- Maintenance: Trompo Canistel is relatively low-maintenance once established. Keep the area around the tree clear of weeds and debris to prevent pests and diseases.
Pest and Disease Management
- Common Pests: Monitor for pests such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control infestations.
- Diseases: Trompo Canistel is relatively disease-resistant, but it’s important to watch for signs of root rot and leaf spot. Ensure proper spacing, good air circulation, and avoid overwatering to reduce disease risk.
Harvesting Fruit
- When to Harvest: Trompo Canistel fruits typically ripen from late fall to winter. The fruit is ready to pick when it reaches full size, and the skin turns bright yellow. The flesh should be soft to the touch but not mushy.
- How to Harvest: Gently twist or cut the fruit from the tree. Allow the fruit to ripen at room temperature if needed. Enjoy the fruit fresh, in smoothies, or incorporated into desserts.
