Santol

Santol (Sandoricum koetjape), also known as Cotton Fruit, is a tropical fruit tree valued for its sweet and sour fruit with a soft, cotton-like pulp. Native to Southeast Asia, it is highly productive and thrives in warm climates, making it an excellent choice for home orchards and food forests.

Santol prefers well-draining, loamy soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 and thrives in full sun. It is drought-tolerant once established and grows quickly, reaching a mature height of 10–20 metres. However, it can be pruned to a manageable height of 4–6 metres for easier harvesting.

The fruit ripens in late summer to early autumn and has a thick, yellow to reddish skin with juicy, tangy-sweet pulp surrounding large seeds. It is commonly eaten fresh or used in jams, juices, and desserts. Some varieties are sweeter, while others have a more tart flavour.

Santol is resistant to most pests and requires minimal maintenance. It can be grown in a 50L pot by year 5 and typically begins fruiting in 6–8 years. This is a must-have tree for tropical fruit lovers looking to grow an exotic and flavourful fruit.

Features:

Ideal prune height: 4–6m

pH growing conditions: 5.5–7.5

Shade or full sun: Full sun

Minimum pot year 5: 50L

Time to fruit: 6–8 years

Interesting notes: Sweet and sour fruit, fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and excellent for jams and juices.

Santol is available for purchase—limited stock. Pickup in Parkwood (near Riverton) by appointment. Over 700 types of fruit trees are available. If you have a list of fruit and food trees you’re looking for, send it for a quote.

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