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Plant Informational Database

Abiu

Pouteria caimito

a.k.a. yellow star apple, caimito, camio (Columbia), luma (Ecuador), temare (Venezuela)

Round-oval, soft, yellow colored fruit, usually 2-4" in diameter with a sweet and pleasant white translucent pulp.

Seed Availability

Seeds are now available at our seed store.

Description

Medium to large-sized tree from 30-120ft. Fruits generally ripen in March and April. Mature trees may produce anywhere from 100-1000 fruits a year.

Hardiness

Tropical, less hardy than the canistel and sapodilla.

Growing Environment

Needs a year-round moist and warm climate for good growth. Enjoys wet soil.

Propagation

Almost always by seeds, which germinate quickly when fresh. Seedling trees show considerable variation in fruit growth. Fruiting from seed can be expected in 3+ years. Grafting and air-layering are used to propagate superior strains.

Uses

The fruits are mostly eaten fresh and occasionally used in ice creams. Unripe fruits contain a gummy latex.

Native Range

Native to the Amazon headwaters and eastern slopes of the Andes mountains. Now found wild throughout much of Amazonia. It is not usually grown commercially, but is a common dooryard tree in the backyards and city streets of many Brazilian towns.

Related Species

Sapotaceae  
Argania spinosa
Argan
Chrysophyllum cainito
Star Apple
Chrysophyllum oliviforme
Satin Leaf Tree
Chrysophyllum soboliferum (Pradosia brevipes)
Armadillo Fruit
Manilkara bidentata, Mimusops balata
Ausubo
Manilkara huberi
Massaranduba
Manilkara zapota
Sapodilla
Mimusops elengi
Spanish Cherry
Pouteria bullata
Abiurana
Pouteria caimito
Abiu
Pouteria campechiana
Canistel
Pouteria gardneriana
Abuai
Pouteria hypoglauca
Cinnamon Apple
Pouteria lucuma (Lucuma obovata)
Lucuma
Pouteria multiflora
Bully Tree
Pouteria pachycalyx
Bapeba
Pouteria pariry
Frutao
Pouteria ramiflora
Macaranduba
Pouteria sapota
Mamey Sapote
Pouteria torta
Curiola
Pouteria ucuqui
Ucuqui
Pouteria venosa
Aboirana
Pouteria viridis
Green Sapote
Sideroxylon foetidissimum
Mastic
Sideroxylon obtusifolium
Jungleplum
Synsepalum dulcificum
Miracle Fruit
Synsepalum subcordatum
Giant Miracle Fruit