- 1). Locate a grower of the trees you can visit if possible. Sapodilla is particularly popular in tropical climates, so growers will be most common in warmer parts of the country. If you are in a temperate zone or have had several frosts recently in your area, look for a grower that raises the trees in a greenhouse. Sapodilla has trouble with frost, and trees that haven't been exposed to frost or cold temperatures will be healthier.
- 2). Examine the tree closely. Check the leaves: they should be glossy, between 3 and 4 inches long, and clustered at the end of the twigs of the tree. The sapodilla is evergreen and should have no brown leaves or leaves falling off of it. Look closely at the shape of the tree: younger trees will have a triangular or pyramidal look to them, while older trees will have what looks like a crown on top.
- 3). Discuss types of sapodillas with the garden center before purchasing. There are several cultivars in addition to the main type of tree, with the key difference being that the cultivars will be much shorter in maturity than the main type, and the flavors of fruit. There are four cultivars: Brown Sugar, Tikal, Prolific, and Russell, each yielding differences in the fruit. All, however, will produce chicle.
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