Casimiroa edulis aka Mexican Apple

Casimiroa edulis is an evergreen fruit tree in the Rutaceae family. Its common names include white sapote and Mexican apple. It comes from Mexico and Central America. Wild trees grow in subtropical woods and low forests. They also grow in dry highland forests. Gardeners grow this species for fruit, shade, and its leafy crown.

The tree has a broad crown with spreading branches. Some branches droop as they grow. Sources give a mature size near 52 feet [16 metres]. Larger trees can reach 59 feet [18 metres] tall. Its spread can reach 52 feet [16 metres] across. It grows at a moderate rate and keeps its leaves year-round. The leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Each palmate leaf has leaflets that spread from one point. Bees pollinate the flowers, and the tree attracts wildlife.

The oval fruit is a drupe with yellow-green skin. It can grow to about 0.33 feet [0.10 metres] long. People eat the flesh fresh or cook it. The flesh tastes sweet, with a soft, buttery texture. Its flavour can recall peach, though some fruit tastes resinous. Eating the fruit may cause drowsiness. Raw seeds can cause fatal poisoning in people and animals. Reports differ about whether roasting makes seeds safe to eat. Those reports do not establish that seeds are safe food.

White sapote needs sun and soil that drains well. It grows in sand, loam, or clay. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Sources also report tolerance of very alkaline and salty soils. It prefers moist soil but can withstand drought. Subtropical conditions suit it better than wet tropical lowlands. It can survive light frost, but cold can damage shoots. Stronger frost may kill the tree back to ground level. Cold weather during flowering can also reduce fruit set.

Its crown provides shade and can serve as a screen. People sometimes use its wood for furniture and carpentry. The wood does not last well over time. Traditional medicine uses the leaves, bark, fruit, and seeds. These uses include sedation and treatment of several ailments. They do not establish safe or effective home treatments. Growers can raise trees from seed, layering, or grafting. Cuttings are hard to root. Deep seed pots allow room for the taproot.