Abiu Pouteria caimito

Common names
English: Abiu, yellow sapote Columbia: amarilla, madura verde Ecuador: cauje, luma
Venezuela: temare Brazil:caimito, caimo, cauje

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​Tree Description:
Abiu trees grow wild on the eastern slopes of the Andes at low elevations. They are found in the amazon and in the regions around South Western Venezuela stretching to Peru. Trees also are found in Columbia, Brazil and in the Caribbean.  Click here to shop for Abiu starter trees: 

The abiu has a pyramidal or rounded crown and can grow to about 33 ft high and some have been found reaching 100 ft. When the trunk is damaged a gummy latex exudes with a white to reddish hue. The latex is said to be of medicinal value.
The leaves  are about 4 - 8 inches long and 1 - 3 inches wide on average with a short pointed tip. Leaves can also vary from ovate to elliptic in shape. 

The tree has small white flowers appearing singly or in clusters at the axil of the leaf or leaf scar. Branches may have close to 300 flowers. Trees are variable in there ability to have flowers that are self compatible and or self pollinating. Planting two trees for cross pollination is wise.

Cultivars: Several varieties have been developed in Queensland Australia.
A few popular ones are Inca Gold, Cape Oasis, Gray and Z 4. Several growers in S. Florida find Z 4 to be an excellent variety that produces a round fruit with a single seed. Grafted varieties however are very difficult to find. Anyone have an E 4? E 4 is an Australian cultivar that is out of this world and sports a tiny nipple at the fruit tip. 

The fruit:  Smooth when young, the shape can vary. Some are round and others oval with an average 1 1/2 to 4 inches in length. Some fruit have a nipple on the end. The fruit is pale yellow when ripe, having white, translucent, jelly-like pulp. Unripe fruit is permeated with sticky latex and is gummy and astringent. The flavor has been described as that of eating sweet caramel and vanilla. An abiu fruit typically contains 1-5 large seeds. Fruit are susceptible to fruit fly and bird damage. Nets and protective wrapping on individual fruit as they develop is an effective solution. The tree may fruit multiple times per year depending on rainfall and irrigation.

Harvest and Storage:
Fruit is ready to harvest three months after fruit set. Half ripe fruit can be harvested and packed in protective boxes to ensure that the delicate skin is not bruised and damaged. The fruit is fully ripe one to five days after harvest, when the fruit pulp and skin loses the sticky latex. Fruit can be stored at 50°F with a shelf life of seven to fourteen days. Click here to shop for Abiu starter trees: 


How to eat the fruit: The fruit has a sweet caramel-like taste similar to sapodilla but with a smoother non gritty texture. It is commonly eaten out of hand and it is wise to grease the lips to prevent the gummy latex from sticking your lips together like crazy glue! LOL. :-) This predicament can be  avoided by selecting fully ripe fruits and scooping out the flesh with a spoon. Adding a bit of lime juice may enhance the flavor of chilled abiu. Abiu trees need some protection from cool temperatures and windy conditions. Provide plenty of sun and moist, well drained soil.

More about growing abiu:
Abiu trees are typically propagated from seed and begin bearing in about 3 years. Some produce in two years. They can produce fruit for more than 20 years.

Light requirement
Full sun

Soil tolerances
Fertile, acid- to slightly alkaline-pH, well-drained soils; trees growing in high-pH, alkaline soils may develop iron deficiency. Abiu is not salt tolerant!

Fertilizer recommendations: Apply four times to six times per year. (This is an estimate only and it is better to use less and judge the effect on the tree) Make adjustments as needed. Have a leaf analysis and a soil test for best results and follow those recommendations. Always read the fertilizer label for safety and application rates. Follow these guidelines at your own risk! N:P:K  10:4:8 or similar works well when applied 3 months after planting.  

February, April, June and August (NPK)   
Nutritional formulations are best applied to the foliage with a sprayer during the warm season and are more effective than during cool periods. Two or three applications per year during the flushing periods are very beneficial to the growth and development of a healthy tree.

Year one total pounds of fertilizer to use for the year is 1.5 lbs - 3 pounds NPK maximum divided by 4 applications. Example:  3 / 4 = 0.75  that is then 3/4 lbs per application.
You could have also choose to apply 1.5 pounds a year and gotten this quantity. 1.5 / 4 applications per year = 0.375 lbs

Year two  3 - 6 pounds NPK  Choose the rate you want to use 3 or 6 pounds total for the year.
For subsequent years increase NPK by 1.5 - 2.5  Pounds per year and choose the application frequency of 4 or 5 times and then divide for the application rate.. 

Provide nutritional sprays containing zinc, manganese, boron, molybdenum; they may also contain iron. Foliage sprays are more effective from April to September. 3 Iron chelated soil drenches (iron plus water) will prevent iron deficiency in high-pH, calcareous soils; foliar iron sprays are generally not effective. Apply soil drenches from April through September

pH preference
5.5-7.5

Watering and drought tolerance
Abiu grows best in hot, humid, tropical climates with well distributed rainfall. They are quite drought tolerant if protected from cold or dry winds. A good way to protect them is by planting windbreaks.  Caution: Mulch is good, but too much mulch can keep the soil too wet and cause root rot that kills the tree. On the other hand, lack of rainfall during a dry season can also injure or kill an abiu tree. Use mulch wisely. Click here to shop for Abiu starter trees: 


During the flowering season, the period from bloom and through fruit development, drought stress should be avoided. As with other fruiting trees, this is a critical time and the trees require periodic watering.
January - May ( Water trees during prolonged dry periods )
September - December ( Reduce watering to slow or stop plant growth and enhance flowering )

Ideal temperatures and cold tolerance
Optimum growth temperatures are from 68–95°F. Young trees may be killed below 32 °F, mature trees at 29-31 °F

Plant spacing
Should be planted at least 25 ft (7.6 m) from nearby trees and structures. However, when you have little room they can be planted closer and maintained to a lower height and width by selective pruning. The trees are also more productive when kept compact .This also provides easier access for harvesting and general maintenance. 

Pruning: Young abiu trees should be trained to form 3–5 main scaffold limbs during the first 2–3 years after planting. Mature trees should be maintained at 8–12 ft by annual, selective removal of poorly placed and upright limbs. Selectively prune trees after the harvest season.

Invasive potential
None reported

Pests: 
Scale, aphids, thrips and the very annoying Sri Lanka weevil attack the leaves. Fruit fly sometimes attacks the fruit and bagging the fruit once it begins to yellow is advised.

Pepe's Tip:  Keep it organic in your pest control efforts and you should have healthy trees with little insect damage. Click here to shop for Abiu starter trees: