Suebelle White Sapote
Casimiroa edulis 'Suebelle'
fruitSuebelle is a favorite home-garden white sapote, valued because it is precocious, productive, and stays smaller than the wild species, which can become a huge tree. The smooth-skinned, yellow-green fruit has soft, sweet, custard-like flesh that tastes of banana, peach, and vanilla, eaten fresh with a spoon. White sapote is a subtropical evergreen from the highlands of Mexico and Central America, more cold-tolerant than truly tropical fruits, and Suebelle often flowers and fruits over a long season. Its handsome hand-shaped (palmate) leaves and easygoing nature make it a rewarding, lesser-known fruit tree for mild-winter gardens.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~4 yrs
to first harvest
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
25 ft or more apart
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Planting Depth
Top of the root ball level with or slightly above the soil
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Soil pH
5.5-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Adaptable, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9 – 11
When to Fertilize
Every 6-8 weeks when young; 2-3 times a year when mature
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer (e.g. 6-6-6) with magnesium and minor-element sprays
🌱 Growing Guide
White sapote is best in subtropical climates with a distinct cool or dry period; young trees are damaged at or below 24F and mature trees at or below 26F, suiting zones 9b to 11. Plant in full sun in almost any well-drained soil - sand, clay, or limestone - 25 ft or more from the nearest tree or structure, as even compact Suebelle can spread. Water newly planted trees every other day the first week, then once or twice weekly for the first months; mature trees need water only during prolonged dry spells. Feed young trees a 6-6-6 with magnesium every six to eight weeks, and mature trees two or three times a year, with a couple of foliar minor-element sprays from spring to early fall. The fast, somewhat brittle growth benefits from early structural pruning to build strong limbs.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Sep 12 · Year 5
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Comfrey: A deep-rooted nutrient accumulator cut for a mineral-rich mulch under the tree
- Clover: A nitrogen-fixing living mulch that protects the soil and feeds the roots
- Lemongrass: A clumping aromatic border on the same warm, well-drained site that helps deter some pests
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Bag developing fruit and harvest promptly at maturity, clearing any fallen fruit that breeds maggots
Inspect leaves and stems and treat with horticultural oil, pruning encrusted wood
A fungus that makes brown corky patches on the peel - prune for airflow and remove affected fruit and debris
🌾 Harvest & storage
Grafted white sapotes like Suebelle bear sooner than seedlings (which take 7 to 8 years), and harvest comes in spring and summer. Pick the fruit when it is full-sized and just begins to soften and turn from green toward yellow, leaving a small piece of stem attached; it finishes ripening to a custard softness at room temperature in a few days. Handle very gently - the thin peel bruises easily and bruised fruit can taste bitter. Eat the soft flesh fresh and discard the seeds.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 80 calories per 100 g with around 30 mg vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. The smooth, sweet, custard-like flesh is eaten fresh with a spoon or blended into shakes and frozen desserts.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
The ripe flesh is the edible part. White sapote seeds contain natural compounds and should not be eaten; discard them and keep them away from children and pets. The leaves and seeds have a mild sedative reputation in folk use, which is another reason to eat only the flesh.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.