Sapodilla 'Silas Wood' (Manilkara zapota)

For a surefire way to grow the Alano Sapodilla fruit you know and love in a convenient container size, look to Silas Wood Sapodilla. This semi-dwarf, tropical evergreen fruit tree has a great overlap with other varieties of Manilkara zapota. The Silas Wood Sapodilla is slow-growing, but will fruit after just 2 years, making it one of the smallest reliably fruiting tropical fruit trees.  In truly tropical climates, Silas Wood Sapodilla has the potential to produce fruit year-round. 

This sapodilla variety is suitable for container growing. Fruit can be plentiful, even for young trees, and may need to be supported in earlier years. Silas Wood Sapodilla fruit is spherical, ranging 2 to 5 inches in diameter, with an unassuming brown skin.  When the fruit is ripe, it ranks among some of the most luxurious flavors and aromas somewhere between a tender pear infused with brown sugar and a hint of jasmine. For best growing conditions, Silas Wood Sapodilla should be grown in a climate where temperatures are at least 60°F, but it will tolerate short bursts of cold down to 35°F. 

Sapoilla's are related to Mamey Sapote, Star Apple, and Canistel.  Sapodilla's are known by many names around the world including Mispel, Zapote, Dilly, Chico, Chico sapote, Zapote chico, Zapotillo, Chicle, Sapodilla plum, and Naseberry, among countless others.