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Summary
Annona atemoya is a small tropical tree suitable for a gardens if you have space. it has delicious edible fruit with a sweet flavour that can be eaten raw. It is not known in the wild. Also recorded as Annona × atemoya
Physical Characteristics
Annona atemoya is a deciduous Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
No synonyms are recorded for this name.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:
Fruit - raw [ 301 ]. Delicious [377]. A sweetish flavour [ 301]. The fruit contains 18% sugar, it can be utilized as a flavouring of ice cream, sherbets and beverages[418
]. Of excellent quality, it resembles A. Cherimola more than it does A. Squamosa[46
]. The fruit is about 8 - 15cm in diameter[335
]. The tree is a garden hybrid, the result of a cross between A. cherimola and A. squamosa[301
].
Said to be one of the best-tasting fruits in the world, it is often cultivated in gardens and commercial orchards[336
]. The tree can be grown in warmer regions of the tropics than A. Cherimola and so is widely cultivated there for its edible fruit[301
].
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.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Insecticide Rootstock
Cherimoya can be used in agroforestry systems as a fruit tree. It provides shade and can be integrated into diverse cropping systems.
The plants can be used as rootstocks for cultivars of this species and for other Annona species[336
].
The green fruit and seed have vermicidal and insecticidal properties[418
].
1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen:
Yes – Many Annona species (such as cherimoya, soursop, and sugar apple) have flowers that attract pollinators, particularly beetles, because of their pollen.
2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting):
Yes – The fruits of Annona species are edible and can serve as food for wildlife, while their foliage may provide shelter and nesting spots for birds and other small animals.
3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover):
Yes – The leaf litter from Annona trees can provide shelter for invertebrates, and their bark may offer overwintering sites for certain insects.
4. Pest Confuser (Smell):
No – Annona species do not produce strong, aromatic smells known to confuse or repel pests.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
In the tropics, the tree is only grown at elevations above 1,000 metres and will not survive under lowland conditions. It is grown in the lowlands in the subtropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24° - 28°c, but can tolerate 12 - 32°c[ 418 ]. Plants can tolerate occasional light frosts[ 335 ]. Young trees will not tolerate prolonged temperatures between -3.9 to -6.7?c, whereas mature trees can withstand those temperatures with slight to moderate damage[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 600 - 4,200mm[ 418 ]. Prefers a moist, sandy loam with a pH of around 6[ 200 ]. Tolerant of a range of soil conditions[ 335 ]. Requires a moist but well-drained soil[ 336 , 377 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[ 418 ]. Trees start producing fruit when about 4 - 5 years old from seed, or about 2 - 3 years after grafting[ 335 ]. Mature trees produce from 23 - 34 kg per tree, possibly more with good management, or 5 - 20 tonnes/ha per year[ 418 ]. Plants sometimes have two distinct flowering periods each year[ 335 ]. Fruiting is improved if the flowers are hand pollinated[ 336 ]. The fruit has good shipping qualities[ 46 ]. There are many named varieties[ 301 ]. When is it harvested?
Late Autumn to Early Winter.
When does it flower?
Late Spring to Early Summer.
Are there any agroforestry uses?
How fast does it grow?
Cherimoya has a moderate growth rate and can take about 3 to 4 years to start producing fruit after planting.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
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Plant Propagation
Seed - normally only used to produce plants used as rootstocks[336
]. The seed usually germinates in about 4 weeks[336
].
Semi-ripe cuttings[200
].
Grafting
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Atemoya
Native Range
Coming Soon
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
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Annona cherimola | Cherimoya, Custard Apple | Tree | 9.0 |
8-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Annona liebmanniana | Hardshell custard-apple, Posh-te | Tree | 20.0 |
9-12
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Annona mucosa | Wild Sweetsop | Tree | 12.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Annona squamosa | Sugar Apple, Sweetsop, Custard Apple | Tree | 6.0 |
10-12
| M | 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
Mabb.
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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