Mammea americana, commonly known as Mammee Apple, Mammee, Mamey, Mamey Apple, Santo Domingo Apricot, tropical Apricot, or South American Apricot, is an 18 - 21 m tall tree with a short trunk that reaches a diameter of 1.2 m. It is heavily branched and has a highly dense oval crown. This plant is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 11 through 12. This document is FC30, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Mamey tree planting for the purposes of cultivation does occur, but is rare. In March moved to our old house with significantly less light - east facing window, lower floor. Seed extracts are toxic to fish, chicks and hogs[303 ] The heartwood is reddish or purple-brown; the sapwood much lighter in colour. In more tropical areas, the preferred height is 12 to 15 feet tall. Water the tree thoroughly. * Exclusive content not on the website Mamey sapote trees in the home landscape are susceptible to trunk injury caused by lawn mowers and weed eaters. Do not allow the roots to begin to curl around in the bottom of the container before transplanting. It was most probably brought to Florida from the Bahamas, but the USDA has it recorded that seeds were received from Ecuador in 1919. Trees can become very large if not pruned. Fruits should be transported at 55F (13C). Avoid planting the mamey tree close to structures. Make a sample cut near the stem end to look at the flesh. Then, cut at a 45-degree angle, 1/4 inch above an outward-facing bud. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); Fertilize with a granular fertilizer once in spring, summer, and fall. An unidentified lepidopterous larva has been observed damaging blooms, and leafhoppers cause some damage to young leaves. Quickview. The young mamey sapote tree should be watered immediately after planting and every other day for the first 4 to 6 weeks unless there is sufficient rainfall. 2023 Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company 1121 Main Street | P.O. One to two applications per year during the spring and summer months should give adequate maintenance of iron. Build a watering berm around the outside of the hole with any leftover soil. The leaves are large, up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) long and 4 inches (10.2 cm) wide, simple, and obovate to oblanceolate in shape. Fertilizer program for mamey sapote trees in the home landscape. With minimum average temperatures between -20 and -10 degrees F, this zone experiences a moderately cold winter. The seeds germinate in two to four weeks. Characteristics of mamey sapote cultivars and each cultivar's suitability for planting in the home landscape. It grows best in the lowlands, but can succeed at elevations up to 1,000 metres[303 ]. Maintain the growing seedling by keeping it watered and protected from any cold weather. Keep the seedling well-watered, but not soggy after germination. In Florida, 'Pantin' accounts for the largest acreage, while 'Magana' is the next in importance. Fertilize the seedling with a fruit tree formulation such as 8-3-9 in March, July and September. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. Mature trees may bear 200 to 500 fruit per year. Cobalamin 0%. Root bound root systems may not grow properly once planted in the ground. They are not the most cold hardy but can be planted in containers or potted plants and brought indoors or in a warm garage for winter. Mamey Sapote Akil Especial Tree, Grafted, For Sale, 2-3 feet tall, Container from Florida. Why you should consider it: The mamey makes a handsome tree and is a reliable producer. I planted a tropical Mamey Sapote seed four or five months ago. It can be eaten raw or made into dessert. It has dense, evergreen, foliage with dark green elliptic leaves up to 8 inches (20 cm.) var ffid = 2; However, do not use wire or nylon rope to tie the tree to the stake as they may eventually damage the tree trunk as it grows. Put the watered pot in partial shade, and keep the potting mix moist but not soggy. The mamey fruit, also known as mamey sapote, or just sapote, is a round, brown fruit that is about 4-8 inches across. It can also be used for fuel. Mamey Sapote. Mammee Apple, Mammey, Abricote, Abricot d'Amerique, Mamey de Santo Domingo, Mammee, abrico, abricoteiro, abricotier d'amrique, abricotier des antilles, abric, abric-de-so-domingos, abric-do-par, abric-selvagem, albricoque, mamey, mamey apple, mammee-apple, mammiapfel, mammipple, mammy-apple, santo domingo apricot, south american apricot, tropical-apricot. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0c[418 ]. $109.95. The mamey fruit is also sometimes easily confused with the sapote or mamey colorado, called just mamey in Cuba, or with the African mamey, M. Africana. Flower color is green size of 0.5-1 cm, Lucuma flower The fruit will soften in a few days to a week, if picked at the proper stage. However, large trees in smaller containers (e.g., an 8 ft tree in a 3-gallon container; 2.4 m tree in a 11 liter container) should be avoided as the root system may be "root bound". Always wear protective gear, including gloves and safety goggles, when working with the tree, fruits and seeds. Trees have thick trunks, large leaves up to 12 inches long, and typically reach an average height of 40 feet in Florida, but may grow to 60 feet in more tropical locations. Never hit the tree trunk with lawn mowing equipment and never use a weed eater near the tree trunk. The mamey sapote is usually eaten in preparations where the fresh or frozen pulp is mixed with other ingredients to make milkshakes or ice cream. The mamey tree is not too picky about the kind of soil you plant it in, but seeds must be propagated. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; (Seed is poisonous if ingested). Normally, the fruit contains a single, large, elliptical seed but it may have up to four. The flesh of the mamey fruit is usually eaten raw, added to salads, boiled and/or cooked with sugar or syrup, and can even be made into wine. Grafted plants may then be exposed to increasing sunlight. An infusion of the ground seeds, minus the embryo which is considered convulsant, is employed as an anthelmintic for adults only[303 ]. The tree's upright branches form an oval head. Sapote fruit is slightly avocado shaped and vary in size from 3 to 8 inches long and 1 to 6 pounds. Put a seed on one of the 2-foot pieces of 2-by-4 board. The wood is hard; heavy; strong; fairly resistant to decay but very susceptible to termites. An alcoholic drink is fermented from the sap of the tree[301 ]. While mamey trees are native to tropical regions, they can also grow in semi-tropical and subtropical areas. How to Transplant an Acer Rubrum Red Maple, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Mamey Sapote Growing in the Florida Home Landscape, Beautiful houseplants that also repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests, How to Grow Marang (Artocarpus Odoratissimus). Flowering Time: Late Spring/Early Summer. Budding. if(ffid == 2){ Although it is more common in South Florida, mamey sapote is hard to find in other areas of the United States. Usually the graft union will form in 3 to 7 weeks at which time tape can be gradually removed from those buds that have begun to grow. How to Grow A Pineapple In Your Home or Garden, What Are Spanish Limes & How to Grow Them, The Beauty of a Butterfly Garden: How to Attract Pollinators to Your Yard. Almost unknown in much of the U.S., the mamey sapote Cuban fruit tree produces the national fruit of Cuba and is enthusiastically grown in tropical areas across the globe, including southern parts of the U.S. Visit the EDIS website at. Selection and preparation of scionwood is essential for inexperienced grafters, however, for some professionals it is not necessary. These two cultivars make up 95-98% of the acreage. Plant each sapote seed about 30 feet apart and dig a hole about the . Dig a hole three to four times as wide as the container the seedling is in and three times as deep. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. As long as your mamey tree is in a sunny and warm spot, it doesnt need much care. The mamey sapote is a tropical tree which tolerates warm subtropical conditions and is not tolerant of freezing temperatures (Figure 2). Sun Sep 04, 2016 5:24 pm. Best temperatures are 60F to 70F (15C to 21C). Planting zones or growing zones are illustrated on a map known as the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Magnesium 0%. The flowers of the mamey tree can be male, female, or hermaphrodite, and and be on the same or different tree. Immature fruit will completely fail to soften, their pulp will turn dark brown and will be inedible. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Preparation of this scionwood for grafting involves girdling the branchlet 10 to 12 inches (25.4 to 30.5 cm) below the terminal 2 to 3 weeks before grafting is to take place. An important new book from PFAF. Place the scion wedge into the vertical cut of the rootstock, matching cambial layers. The best time of year to graft mamey sapote in Florida is when there are warm days, cool nights, and low relative humidity. Revised May 1996, September 2005, October 2008, and November 2016. The maximum size of its leaves grows to about 12 by 4 inches. Drought and diseases are suspected as the possible causes. Seedling trees begin to bear fruit after 7 years or longer. Large fruiting tree, Street tree. Put enough soil back in the hole to bring the tree's soil level up to or a little above the soil level around the hole. Mammee apple fruit is a round berry, with a brown or gray brown thick rind. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 800 - 2,600mm[418 ]. ins.style.height = container.attributes.ezah.value + 'px'; Select the warmest area of the landscape that does not flood (or remain wet) after typical summer rainfall events. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs. $119.95. Nicholas Staddon of Monrovia, a plant seller, says late summer/early fall is the best time to plant in most parts of the U.S. -- zones 4 to 8. The flowers may be hermaphrodite, male or female, on the same or different trees and bloom during and after fruiting. If you've never heard of the mamey fruit, pouteria sapota, you're not alone! Jonathan H. Crane, professor and tropical fruit crop specialist, UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center; Carlos F. Balerdi, professor and multi-county tropical fruits crops Extension agent IV (retired), UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County; Ian Maguire, Media Artist (former), UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611. Trees will bear fruit in six to 10 years. Bloom Color: Pale Yellow. Atemoya Fruit Tree 'African Pride' (Atemoya hybrid) #R9910-4G 4" Pot $49.95. From 1 serving (which is half a fruit and about 113 grams), you'll get: So now that you know how to grow a mamey tree, it's time to plant!if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'plantinstructions_com-box-4','ezslot_5',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-plantinstructions_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'plantinstructions_com-box-4','ezslot_6',108,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-plantinstructions_com-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-108{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. There are reportedly fruiting Mameys growing in Southern California around Long Beach which is 33 degrees north. This is because too much water, too often is being applied, which results in root rot. Provided you have the proper temperature requirements, the mamey tree is an easy tree to grow and is resistant to most diseases and pests. Its trunk is short and reaches 1.9-2.2 m (6 ft 3 in - 7 ft 3 in) in diameter. container.appendChild(ins); In Florida, seedlings are typically used as rootstocks for desirable cultivars. The fruit is ripe when a yellowing of the skin appears or when lightly scratched, the usual green has been replaced by a light yellow. The pruning stimulates growth of numerous vigorously growing lateral shoots. Hardiness: USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 C (30 F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 C (35 F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 C (40 F) Where to Grow: Unknown - Tell us. Terminal branchlets are commonly used by commercial propagators. While successful, these methods are somewhat cumbersome. Agroforestry Uses: The large spreading lateral roots prevent soil erosion[303 ]. Leaves The leaves are large, up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) long and 4 inches (10.2 cm) wide, simple, and obovate to oblanceolate in shape. The skin is leathery and will usually ripen once off the tree. * Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information. In addition, weakened roots are more susceptible to attack by root rotting fungi (e.g., Pythium spp.). In certain Latin American countries, Mammea . Native to eastern Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and parts of Columbia, Black Sapote is also aptly referred to as "chocolate pudding fruit" for its flavor, color and texture upon ripening. Fruiting of the evergreen Black Sapote occurs in 3 to 4 years, and mature trees can grow to more than 80 feet in height. Staking the tree with a wooden or bamboo stake is optional. It is usually just found growing naturally along the sides of the roads in the Caribbean. They grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, and need protection from temperatures 32 degrees Fahrenheit and below elsewhere. Hardiness Zone. Harvesting varies according to growing location. Iron 33%. Make a hole 3 to 4 times the diameter and 3 times a deep as the container the mamey sapote tree has come in. A mamey tree loaded with fruit. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Mammea americana is an evergreen Tree growing to 18 m (59ft) by 16 m (52ft) at a medium rate. Pace Mamey Tree Growing Zones in Ground: 9 - 11 / in Pots: 4 - 11 $ 169.95 Ship to zipcode Submit Please provide your zipcode to see the available trees. These zones are based on the average minimum temperatures in different regions of the U.S., ranging from Zone 1a (-60 to -55 F) to Zone 13b (65 to 70 F). What is a Tomato Hornworm and How Does it Affect Your Crops? Other Uses The juice of the seed leaves an indelible stain[303 ]. Roots of mature mamey sapote trees spread beyond the drip-line of the tree canopy and application of some weed and feed herbicides adjacent to mamey sapote tree is not recommended and may affect plant growth. ReferencesCarbon Farming Information andCarbon Sequestration Information. Croton mammy wants all-purpose, well-draining soil that is kept moist but not waterlogged. Although it is sporadically cultivated in French Guiana, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, Guyana, and Northern Brazil. The sugarcane rootstalk borer (Diaprepes abbreviatus) is a potential threat since it is present in Florida and attacks a wide variety of plants including mamey sapote. Then there's the Mamey Sapote, with a brown outer skin and orange, sugary flesh. Mammea americana, commonly known as mammee, mammee apple, mamey, mamey apple, Santo Domingo apricot, tropical apricot, or South American apricot, is an evergreen tree of the family Calophyllaceae, whose fruit is edible.It has also been classified as belonging to the family Guttiferae Juss. Air-seasoning is moderate in rate but very difficult, and the amount of degrade is considerable. See above for USDA hardiness. When twisted into the shape of a cone, the leaves are used as pots for planting tobacco seedlings and protect the young plants from root-destroying insects[447 ]. No, mamey does not grow true to seed. The tree itself resembles a magnolia and attains a medium to large size of up to 75 feet (23 m.). The mamey tree closely resembles a magnolia tree and can reach heights of up to 75 feet. The fruit is rich in pectin and therefore makes good preserves, these taste remarkably like apricot preserves[200 , 301 ]. We are currently updating this section. The small, perfect, whitish, almost sessile flowers are produced abundantly along small branches (1/2 to 2 inches; 1.3 to 5.1 cm), and tend to cluster towards the ends of the stems. Seeds should be collected from mature fruit and planted immediately in well-drained media. Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested. Maintenance pruning of mature trees to remove dead or diseased branches and to limit tree size should be done periodically. The fruit should be removed carefully by twisting or cutting it off, avoiding scratches which mar appearance and result in irregular ripening and poor storage life. In fact, they are pretty common in Florida and Hawaii. Tamp the soil down firmly. The mamey seed must be absolutely fresh to germinate. Mamey sapote may be propagated by T- and chip budding, however, the level of skill needed for success is much greater than with grafting. Seeds are the usual means of propagation and they germinate in 1 - 4 months with a 97% rate. Mamey trees (Mammea americana) are also referred to as Mammee, Mamey de Santo Domingo, Abricote, and Abricot dAmerique. Keep mulch 8 to 12 inches (2030 cm) from the trunk. A firm, thick flesh with an aromatic flavour similar to apricots[200 ]. This plant is a huge fruit that is actually a berry in terms of its shape. Step 4: Water the plant regularly, but not too much. Intensely aromatic, the flesh is deep orange and similar in flavor to an apricot or raspberry. Water the seedling on a regular basis and make sure it's in a sunny spot. Croton Mammey is easy to grow indoors or outdoors in a warm, tropical setting. Plant now, pay later on orders between $50 and $3000 with. The trees should never be allowed to wilt, but too much water may damage the roots, especially in poorly drained locations. Place the plant in about 50% shade. Mamey sapotes are very prolific and mature trees may bear 200 to 500 fruit per year. The USDA plant hardiness zone map was created by the United States Department of Agriculture to help gardeners, landscapers, and growers determine the best plants to grow in their area. Put the removed soil back in the hole, taking care to fill in around roots and get rid of any air pockets. As trees mature, the amount of fertilizer increases but the frequency decreases. H.E. Make sure the soil is well-draining. Plant the tree as described in the previous section. Fruit weight ranges from 0.75 to 6.0 lb (0.3-2.7 kg). It can be found growing naturally along the roads of St. Croix. See suggested trees for your region. Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. An alternative, which produces scionwood with a greater probability of grafting success is to produce new, young shoots by selectively pruning back mature limbs of desired cultivars. Micronutrient formulations that include magnesium, manganese, zinc, and others (e.g., molybdenum, boron) are available and commonly used. ContainersDyeFuelFurnitureGumHairInsecticideLatexPectinPlant breedingRepellentSoil stabilizationTanninWoodLarge shade tree. Scientific name: Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) Keep the seedling well watered for the next few weeks -- every other day in warm weather if no rain occurs. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; Soft, mature fruits will store well in the refrigerator at 5055F (1013C). Beloved in the Caribbean and throughout the tropical world, the Mamey Sapote fruit tastes like a delicious combination of sweet potato and pumpkin with undertones of a . If you value what we do please give what you can to support our work. It is rapidly growing in popularity in North America due to its delicious fruit. For commercial purposes, fruit can be harvested when the flesh begins to redden, but for home use it should become completely reddish. IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed. Make sure the site has full sun. More >>>. Sold out. The acrid resinous gum has been used locally for destroying skin-infesting chigoe fleas . It's extremely aromatic with an orange colored flesh that tastes like an apricot or raspberry. (1789), which would make it a relative of the mangosteen. The wood is hard, strong, and heavy; it used for cabinet work, pillars, turnery, and posts. To graft, cut the rootstock off at 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 cm) above the soil line and make a vertical cut into the rootstock 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) long, splitting the rootstock in half. Various scales such as the white peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona), philephedra scale (Philephedra sp. Learn how to grow mamey trees/sapote with our expert gardening guide! This tree has been very slow growing and appears to be very sensitive to being over fertilized. Revised May 1996, September 2005, October 2008, and November 2016. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz) may damage flowers, young leaves, and fruit, but it is usually not an important problem in Florida. It requires little care and yields a useful, attractive, good tasting fruit. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water. Moore & Stearn, Other common names: sapote, mamey colorado, Synonyms: Calocarpum sapota (Jacq.) A method commonly used to test fruit maturity is to make a small scratch on the skin surface to remove just the outer, scurfy layer. Trees planted too close to other trees or structures may not grow normally or produce much fruit due to shading. A greenhouse is an ideal place to grow a mammee apple, but keep in mind, the tree can grow to quite a significant height. Even then, that palm will show significant damage. Trees kept to a height of 12 to 15 feet (3.7-4.6 m) or less are easier to care for and are less susceptible to severe wind damage than trees allowed to grow tall. The pulp has a sweet, almond-like, unique flavor. It only lives seven to 14 days after it is removed from the ripe fruit. Plant spacing should be planned so as to provide adequate room for normal growth for several years. Original publication date April 1979. The firm, juicy flesh is usually eaten fresh, and appears in . Locate the warmest possible spot for planting the mamey outside. Some seedling trees produce high quality fruit, and from these, superior types have been selected which are vegetatively propagated as named cultivars (Table 1). Repeat until you see a hairline crack in the seed. especially during the first year of development. The Mamey Fruit Tree reaches just 25 feet tall, making it a great medium-sized, manageable fruit tree for your backyard. It is cultivated in tropical regions in the Americas including Southern Florida, and is very popular among many Caribbean and Central American peoples. Harvest the mature fruit. Mamey sapote are intolerant of constantly wet or flooded soil conditions. Nutrient value of raw mamey sapote fruit (3.5 oz or 100 g of fruit).1. In some locations, like Puerto Rico and Central Columbia,the trees may even produce two crops per year. However, some experienced nurserymen cleft graft during summer and some graft year-round. Wash seeds to remove any pulp and juices. If the exposed flesh is turning orange or red, the fruit is mature enough to pick. The mamey sapote grows well in a wide variety of well-drained soils, from heavy clays to the limestone and sandy soils of Florida. Plant the seeds immediately in a moist mix after harvesting from the sapote fruit. Additional uses of the mamey fruit include ice cream, sherbet, preserves, drinks, pies, tarts, and cakes. Importance: The mamey sapote is an important fruit in Miami-Dade, Florida (US), Mexico, Central America, and in the West Indiesincluding the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Wrap the graft with grafting tape. Mamey Sapote Tree Pace Variety Grafted, 3 feet tall for sale from Florida. Here at 37 degrees north there are some trying to grow mamey outdoors, who knows if any of us will succeed. It can reach heights of up to 42 meters if properly maintained. Seeds that have a hairline crack in the seed coat appear to germinate more quickly.