Canistel

Canistel egg fruit Pouteria campechiana, Native to southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador, this evergreen tree is ornamental and produces a sweet yellowish-orange top-shaped fruit. Trees may reach 25 ft or so in height with leaves mostly grouped at the ends of branches. The attractive lanceolate-shaped leaves are glossy and green. Trees produce 3-5 inch long by 2-3 inch diameter, conical-shaped fruit. The maturing fruit changes from green to light green to golden-yellow or pale orange-yellow at maturity. After picking allow fruit to become soft before eating. Soft fruit will have a yellow-orange flesh, which is smooth with a sweet to musky flavor. Eggfruit is eaten fresh and used in making milk shakes. Plant trees in a well-drained soil and sunny location. Season: Dec.-May.

Native to southern Mexico and Central America, Canistel is a tropical fruiting tree that may be grown in gardens in southern zones or planted in large containers in the north. The yellow-orange fruit measures 3- 5" long and has a few dark brown seeds on the inside of the fruit. The taste and texture is often compared to a baked sweet potato. Canistel blooms in spring and the fruit ripens from late fall through winter. The fruit is rich in vitamin A and may be eaten fresh or used to make jams, custards, milkshakes or even Canistel pie, which tastes a little like pumpkin pie. Grow in full sun and once the tree reaches 4-5' tall or is a two-year old specimen, you can expect your tree to start fruiting. This is a grafted plant that blooms and fruits sooner.