Black Sapote
Diospyros nigra
- Native to:
- Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá
Tatiana Gerus (www.flickr.com) from Brisbane, Australia
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ebenaceae
- Genus:
- Diospyros
- Species:
- Diospyros nigra
- USDA Symbol:
- DIDI15
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Eumarozia malachitana
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, mammals
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical regions with seasonal rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Seeds lose viability quickly if allowed to dry.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI