Diospyros digyna

Black sapote (Diospyros digyna)
Scientific name	Diospyros digyna
Genus	Diospyros
Family	Ebenaceae
Order	Ericales
Growth and size	Evergreen tree; typically about 10–15 m; larger trees are reported
Climate and site	Moist tropical to subtropical sites; drought and hard frost are limiting
Propagation	Fresh seed; grafting preserves selected fruit type
Years to fruit	N/A
Fruit and harvest	Soft dark custard fruit; harvest timing is regional

Description

Diospyros digyna fruit, identified on the Commons file page as black sapote.

Black sapote is an evergreen tree in the Ebenaceae. Its ripe fruit develops dark brown, custard-like flesh and is eaten as a dessert fruit. Useful Tropical Plants describes trees from roughly 10 to 25 m, while cultivated specimens are often maintained smaller; the source also records dry or wet mixed-forest habitat in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

The accepted genus, family, and order are Diospyros, Ebenaceae, and Ericales.

Cultivation

Black sapote is a humid tropical to subtropical tree of dry or wet mixed forest, often near sea level. It tolerates a range of soils and is reported to survive flooding, but it is sensitive to drought; warm, regularly watered growth is a better cultivation target than either chronic dryness or stagnant container media. Protect young growth from frost.

Soil

The available species account records adaptation to calcareous soils and a preferred pH around 6 to 7, with tolerance outside that range. Use a moisture-retentive but aerated medium and avoid allowing a container root ball to dry hard.

Sun and humidity

Full sun is suitable, with some shade tolerated. The native range includes humid mixed forest, so high atmospheric humidity is useful, but foliage still benefits from airflow.

Seasonal changes

Native habitat spans wet and seasonally dry forest, so water demand can change through the year. Maintain moisture during active growth and fruit development, reduce irrigation only when the root zone remains safely hydrated, and protect the tree whenever temperatures approach its frost limit.

Propagation

Fresh seed is the ordinary method; the species account reports germination in about 30 days and warns that seedlings form a long taproot early. Grafting or budding onto seedling rootstocks is used when a seedless or otherwise selected fruit type must be preserved. Seedling trees are reported to bear at about 5 to 6 years, while grafted trees may bear at about 2 to 3 years; these are source reports, not universal schedules.

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

The species account describes flowers on new shoots and reports that some trees are self-incompatible, although solitary female trees may occasionally set seedless fruit. Ripe fruit is soft and dark inside; harvest timing is not established as one universal season and should be recorded by locality and selection.

Fruit and uses

Ripe black sapote is eaten fresh and used in desserts and drinks. The unripe fruit is reported as a fish poison, so only ripe fruit should be treated as a food. The flesh softens substantially at maturity and should be handled gently.

Photos

Diospyros digyna in a botanical-garden setting.

Diospyros digyna in the Botanical Park of Crete.

References

• Useful Tropical Plants: Diospyros digyna — identity, range, habitat, cultivation, propagation, and fruiting reports; accessed 2026-08-25.

Image credits

• Black Sapote 1.JPG — file page; creator and license verified there.
• Diospyros digyna (6086).JPG — file page; creator and license verified there.
• Diospyros digyna 2.jpg — Critical Miami, CC BY-SA 2.0.
• Diospyros digyna kz01.jpg — Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0.