Manilkara zapota ‘Alano’ - Chico Sapote, Sapodilla or Chicle Tree

Thanks for the info. It looks an attractive plant, Delonix. Not sure about the friut - I don't like the taste of pears! Can it be cooked?

Ange2,

The fruit doesn’t taste like a pear. The consistency of the fruit is like similar to a pear. It has a very sweet tropical taste. Many people describe it as a maple syrup or brown sugar sweetness. Yes, lots of uses for the fruit.

It’s native to southern Mexico through Central America. It was widely grown for chicle (white latex) which used to be made into gum. Maybe you remember chicklets gum from the 60’s and 70’s?

The fruit is awesome! There’s several varieties, but Alano is the most popular throughout the tropical and subtropical world for it ease of production and large quantities of harvest. It’s a very ornamental tree. Unfortunately, this pic wasn’t so clear. I’ll take more pics in the future. This is an air-layered tree so it should flower and produce fruit very soon. It takes 7 to 9 months for the fruit to ripen. It’s like an avocado.

Agree, it's a very attractive shape and shade of green. Must admit, I LOVE pears...this sounds delicious although it's more sweet and 'brown sugar infused'

Kate,

Alano Sapodilla has a smoother texture than a pear, but is very sweet and with tropical overtones. Pretty much everyone who eats it, loves it!

It’s a very beautiful tree, which has become very sought after here in California. It’s a pretty hardy tree, considering its ultra-tropical native lands. But, even though pretty hardy (to 26 degrees or -3.3 degrees c. and I’ve heard even possibly lower) the fruit isn’t hardy, and it takes 7 to 9 months to ripen. It blooms a lot in spring and fall.