Latin name - pouteria caimito 

Abiu (ab-you) trees are part of the sapote family, and produce a bright yellow-skinned, roughly baseball sized fruit.  The inner flesh is whitish and slightly translucent, firm and gelatinous in texture. A really good Abiu can taste similar to flan with notes of caramel.  They are typically eaten by cutting the fruit in half and scooping out the flesh with a spoon.  If eaten straight off the skin, they can make your lips a bit sticky– there’s a slight amount of milky latex found in the skin.  It is sometimes referred to as caimito amarillo, due to its similarity to Caimito (star apple) fruit.

The Abiu tree is sensitive to cold, and can die with exposure to sub-freezing temperatures.  They are best grown in a warm microclimate with minimal wind exposure. As of this time, Abiu is still a rare and scarcely planted tree in Florida, and most trees are grown from seed as named cultivars are generally not available.  Abiu trees are self-fertile and don’t require a second tree, but production can vary greatly between trees. It is advantageous to plant multiple trees to ensure good fruit production.  The trees grow upward, with thin, long side branches that hang downward.  The oldest Abiu trees we’ve seen in Florida were approximately 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide.  Plant in a sunny, well draining area with a warm and wind-protected microclimate for best results.

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Size: Up to 25 ft x 15 ft

Sun Requirements: Full sun to slight shade

Cold Hardy: 32 degrees can kill the tree

Harvest Season:  Fall

Watering requirements:  Should be watered regularly for best growth.  Somewhat drought tolerant but best irrigated during dry seasons.

Food Forest Layer: Canopy