Wood Species Guide
Sapodilla
Manilkara zapota
Also called: Chicozapote, Chico Zapote, Chicle Tree, Naseberry, Zapote, Níspero
About the name “Sapodilla”
The lumber trade usually calls this wood chicozapote, while Florida gardeners know the tree as sapodilla. "Zapote" and "níspero" are used for several other fruit trees in Latin America, so check the botanical name when buying. Massaranduba, a decking wood, is a close relative in the same genus.
What Sapodilla looks like
Heartwood ranges from pinkish red to a deep reddish brown. The pale sapwood shades gradually into the heartwood, and small gum pockets are common.
Grain and texture
Grain is mostly straight, sometimes wavy, with a fine to medium, even texture.
Working Sapodilla: planing, cutting and gluing
Very dense, so it is slow to cut and dulls edges faster than average. It checks readily while drying, which is why even small blanks are often sold dry. Once seasoned it turns and finishes well.
Finishing Sapodilla: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Oil and hardwax oil give a deep red-brown glow, and film finishes work on a clean surface. Gum pockets can stay tacky, so wipe the surface with acetone and seal before epoxy. Seal any checks before a pour so trapped air doesn't bubble up.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Heartwood is very resistant to rot and insects, and old beams have outlasted centuries in Maya ruins. It moves little once dry, but it must dry slowly. In Florida it handles a covered lanai well; indoors, acclimate it and finish all faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Sapodilla is a fruit tree first, so in Southwest Florida the wood mostly comes from yard trees and storm cleanup. Thick pieces check if you rush them, so seal the ends the day they are cut and give them time. It makes heavy, handsome turnings, mallets and small tables. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Sapodilla
Turned objects, archery bows, flooring, cabinetry, furniture, beams and small specialty items.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. In Florida it is a Category I invasive species on the Florida Invasive Species Council list, so using removed trees is a good use for them.
Safety and toxicity
- Respiratory / asthma
Few reports. Nasal and airway irritation has been noted, and the green wood and bark have a sticky latex sap.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves when handling sappy green logs
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Nose and airway irritation has been reported from the dust, though serious reactions are uncommon. The bark and fresh wood carry a sticky latex, so wear gloves when handling green logs and use dust collection and a mask.
Sapodilla in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Sapodilla listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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