how tall is it now?

Looks promising Grant!

Hah, thanks Raimeiken and Mary! You all know I have a like/dislike with the progress of this plant. I'm regretting even using the word "tree" in my initial post, hah! It's only about five feet tall and I bought it as a three footer almost four years ago! Grrrr. But hey, it's flowering so that's something, right? We'll see what we see, thanks for looking/commenting! Happy gardening.

I love this tree. I have several, all grown from seed. One is older than the others by about 5 or so years, and so is larger. 'Sapote' (the member here) was very kind to me a couple of years ago and sent me some fresh seed, so I have others planted nearby.

My oldest one was pruned harshly last November, and has already branched and leafed out well. No sign of pruning.

No sign of flowers yet either. Sigh.....

But I have no love/hate affair with them. :)

I just love them. Giant swallowtails use them for their caterpillars to munch on. So until I get fruit, at least I get these lovely winged jewels to crowd my garden in the meantime.

How old is yours Grant? Is it from seed or no?

Neat that you have several, MSMorningsong, can we see pics? I had no idea giant swallowtail larvae ate their foliage. I'll keep my eyes peeled since mine is small, hah (I do get a lot of swallowtails and their caterpillars on my citrus and I just let them do their thing). Mine is four years old now, I think. It is not from seed, it is a grafted variety, 'Sue Belle' (sometimes spelled 'Suebelle'. Blooming right now, but it bloomed without fruit last year. Grrr, lol. Happy gardening all!

Okay there is ONE cute little fruit hanging on, and slowly swelling. It isn't guaranteed to ripen of course, but I'm still hopeful, LOL. Here's a bad pic from this morning. It's about the size of a small grape. I hope it sticks around! Happy gardening!

Thanks MsMorning! I have my doubts that it will hold on, but hey, this is the closest to ripe fruit this tree has ever produced, hah. I'm hoping like citrus, it's baby steps each year until it's productive. I'm so surprised the swallowtails like your sapote--I would have to do a Relocation Program on this little tree, hah! Definitely post some pics, thanks!

Hey Grant, any updates on your tree? Has it grown at all?

I might try another one in the fall. I got a good spot for it too in the yard.

It's made a nice new flush of growth, Raimeiken, about two feet's worth. The fruit is still on the tree, about the size of a plum now, but it's starting to yellow a bit so I don't think it's going to stick around. The tree HAS made growth though. I love the look of the foliage--I just wish it grew as fast as a citrus. Post updates if you plant one too! Thanks for asking, happy gardening!

I just want to show you another grower here in AZ that's had one in ground for maybe 8+ years now and his is loaded with fruit at the moment. I'm very jealous of his tree lol

Check out the pictures.

http://phoenixtropicals.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=828

LOL, I'm jealous too. I do see happy, fruit-filled ones around town (and on the ASU campus) so I know they can be happy here, just maybe not in my garden, hah! I haven't given up yet though. Happy gardening!

I just had to try one after seeing this, and a few other posts. I bought one of these yesterday (suebell) at Home Depot (on Power near Germann). If you're in the market they still have a few. They have a few mangos too. I want one of those too eventually.

I'm thinking of waiting until later in the fall to plant it, but I have a pretty good spot lined up. Would you say it helps the tree to have some afternoon shade it's first few years? Do you use any fertilizer on yours, Grant?

gonna pick another one up soon as I find one at a local lowes or homedepot here.

Mine gets full crazy hot full sun, Andy, as do most of the happy ones that I see around the valley. I'm curious to hear what exposure others give theirs. Yes, I do fertilize mine fairly regularly in spring, mid summer and then autumn. Post lots of updates fellow growers. It looks like the one fruit on mine is turning brown and rotting, but hey, each year it gets closer to bearing fruit (nothing, then leaves, then flowers, then flowers and tiny fruit that drop, now flowers with a fruit that hung around most of the summer, hah). Happy gardening!