The large shiny green fruit has chocolate colored soft flesh with up to 10 bean size seeds in the central core. Mealybugs are sometimes found around fruit stems, and aphids can infest new growth. Black sapote is a tropical evergreen fruit tree closely related to the persimmon (another common name is black persimmon). The tropical winter weather is ideal for the Black Sapote; as a result it is one of the few fruits available during the winter months in sub-tropical and tropical regions. Black scale often occurs on nursery stock and occasionally on mature trees in California. Mature trees can grow to over 25 m (82 ft) in height and are evergreen. Pests and diseases: The white sapote has few natural enemies but the fruits of some cultivars are attacked by fruit flies where that is a problem. A tropical persimmon. A spoonful of honey mixed into the pulp makes it glossy, shiny and tasty, living up to its popular name of Chocolate Pudding Fruit. While it can grow up to 40 feet tall in outdoor tropical climates, it is often grown as a potted plant—on patios in warmer climates, sometimes as a houseplant in colder regions. Drawn from the Nahuatl word “tzapotl,” Sapote is an encompassing term for a soft, edible fruit. BONITA CREEK NURSERY - San Diego, CA. It applies to a host of such fruit that are unrelated botanically. We are grower of bareroot fruit trees and we are located in Southern California. Sweet. The leaves are elliptic-oblong, tapered at both ends, dark green, glossy and 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) long. Description. Black Sapote doesn’t grow well in California, mostly because the temperatures are too low. Black Sapote trees can be grown in the United States, in Florida. The Tropics’ Creamy, Delicious Source for Health. Black sapote Diospyros digyna, D. ebenaster. Often called Chocolate pudding fruit, the black sapote is an evergreen, handsome tree with dark green, glossy leaves. Black Sapote Sort by Featured Best Selling Alphabetically, A-Z Alphabetically, Z-A Price, low to high Price, high to low Date, new to old Date, old to new Grid view List view The name sapote means “sweet soft fruit” in the language of the Aztecs. Black sapote is not related to white sapote nor mamey sapote. Research shows that production is better if the flowers are cross-pollinated and hand pollinated. The fruit overwinters on the tree. Black Sapote Image Gallery Bark-of-Black-Sapote. Eaten fresh or prepared. Fruit are greenish-brown when ripe having a thin skin and chocolate colored pulp. Black Sapote Tree in a 3 Gallon Container. Black Sapote. There are several producing trees in California. Some trees bear only male flowers. It is frost sensitive but can tolerate light frosts.