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Summary
Native to tropical South America, Wild Sweetsop (Annona mucosa) belongs in the Annonaceae family. It is an evergreen tree with a low but dense crown and can reach up to 10 - 20 m tall when fully matured. The leaves are used in folk medicine as a remedy for rheumatism. The edible, yellow fruit has an excellent quality and can be used in ice cream, pies and cakes. The seeds have wide range of uses like as a material in making necklaces and bracelets, and as an insecticide. The wood is yellowish, medium-textured, hard and strong but not durable. The tree is fast growing and cannot tolerate frost. Fruiting starts when the tree is about 4 years old.
Physical Characteristics
Annona mucosa is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Rollinia deliciosa Saff. Rollinia mucosa (Jacq.) Baill. Rollinia orthopetala A.DC. Rollinia pulchrin
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:
Fruit - raw or cooked. Of excellent quality[ 46 ]. The yellow fruits have a juicy, melting flesh of a very pleasant flavour, reminiscent of lemon meringue pie[ 301 ]. Delicious[ 317 ]. Usually eaten raw, they can also be used in ice cream, pies, cakes etc[ 301 ]. The fruit can be up to 15cm wide[ 307 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic
The leaves are utilized in folk medicine as a treatment against rheumatism[ 317 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Beads Containers Insecticide Wood
Other uses rating: Low (2/5). Other Uses The seeds are very hard. They are used as beads in necklaces and bracelets[ 317 , 420 ]. The seeds are used as an insecticide[ 317 ]. The yellowish wood is medium-textured, straight grained, heavy in one report[ 307 ], but light in another[ 420 ], hard and strong[ 307 , 420 ]. It has poor mechanical properties and is not durable[ 420 ]. It is used for small constructions, making boxes and linings[ 317 , 420 ].
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of the hot, humid, tropical lowlands[ 335 ]. Plants are very susceptible to frost damage[ 335 ]. Prefers a fertile, well-drained soil and a position in full sun[ 307 ]. A fast-growing tree[ 307 ]. Plants can commence bearing fruit when about 4 years old[ 416 ]. Plants are becoming threatened in the wild due to deforestation[ 307 ].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
The seed of many species in this genus has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[ K ]. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate in excess of 50% can be expected from treated seeds[ 420 ]. When the seedlings are 6 - 8cm tall, pot them up into individual containers[ 420 ]. Layering. Grafting.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Wild Sweetsop (Annona mucosa)
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico, Chiapas, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, SOUTHERN AMERICA: Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, United States, Puerto Rico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Acre, Amazonas, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Bolivia, El Beni, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru,
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Annona atemoya | Atemoya | Tree | 8.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | D | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Annona cherimola | Cherimoya, Custard Apple | Tree | 9.0 |
8-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Annona liebmanniana | Hardshell custard-apple, Posh-te | Tree | 20.0 |
9-12
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Annona muricata | Sour Sop | Tree | 7.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Annona salzmannii | Beach Sugar Apple | Tree | 12.0 |
10-12
| S | LM | SN | M | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Annona squamosa | Sugar Apple, Sweetsop, Custard Apple | Tree | 6.0 |
10-12
| S | LM | N | DM | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Annona vepretorum | Araticum, Pinha da Caatinga, Araticum-da-bahia | Tree | 6.0 |
10-12
| S | LMH | N | D | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Asimina triloba | Papaw | Shrub | 4.5 |
5-8
| S | M | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Cananga odorata | Ylang Ylang, Perfume Tree | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Oxandra lanceolata | Black lancewood, lancewood, haya prieta | Tree | 10.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | M | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Oxandra laurifolia | Yaya, lancewood | Tree | 10.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | M | 0 | 0 | 4 |
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Jacq.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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