Pouteria viridis
Cholul, Green Sapote
Pouteria viridis
Pouteria viridis, Green Sapote or Cholul, is quite possibly my favorite fruit. When I think of Green Sapote, I think of being in San Marcos La Laguna in Guatemala, sitting around Lake Atitlan and slicing into a beautiful green orb that yields to a deep orange flesh, reminiscent of a sweet butterscotch pumpkin pie. Dang, I can’t wait to get back.
This tree speaks deeply to me and I think that it will do the same for you as well. It is a fruit that will make you desire it’s presence in your life on a constant basis!
Cholul can be found from the Gulf of Mexico through Costa Rica growing in highlands. It is said that Cholul is incapable of handling frosts although I believe that there is more opportunity to grow this fruit in environments that have light frost events. I have seen them grown successfully in Santa Cruz, California as well as at over 5,000 feet in the highlands of Guatemala growing with Casimiroa edulis which is very frost tolerant. This is a species I will be focusing on growing out, making selections for desirable characteristics, and hopefully making them a part of your life.
Family: Sapotaceae
Name: Pouteria viridis
Common Name / Native Name: Green Sapote, Cholul
Range: Highlands of Central America, Gulf of Mexico to Costa Rica
Sun: Full sun/part shade
Height: 40+feet
Width: 30+feet
Foliage: Beautiful large, lanceolate, green pubescent foliage
Flower: Small crucible shaped flowers in a cauliflorous fashion along the stems and trunk
Fruit: Softball sized green orbs with a deep orange flesh
Soil Type/ pH: Prefers Acidic Soils
USDA Climate Zones: 9b+
Cold Hardiness: Undetermined but capable of handling brief periods of frosts
Edibility: My favorite fruit. Butterscotch pumpkin pie is how I often describe it to people who have never had it.
Age to maturity: 5+ years
Sources:
http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:209924-2