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Annona liebmanniana - Baill.

Common Name Hardshell custard-apple, Posh-te
Family Annonaceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist or wet, mixed forest at elevations of 1,800 metres or less, chiefly near sea level[331].
Range Central America - south Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Annona liebmanniana Hardshell custard-apple, Posh-te


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Annona liebmanniana Hardshell custard-apple, Posh-te

 

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Summary

Posh-te or Annona liebmanniana is an evergreen tree that usually grows up to 20 m in height. It can be found in Central America particularly in South Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It is known for its delicious and aromatic fruit that is best eaten raw fresh from the tree. The fruit's flesh is soft-textured and cream in color while its exocarp is thick. Seeds are large, up to 2cm long.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Annona liebmanniana is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) 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 and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Annona scleroderma Saff. Annona testudinea Saff.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw. Delicious and aromatic, it is best eaten fresh from the plant[ 46 , 301 ]. A richer flavour than the soursop (A. muricata) with a suggestion of the flavour of the white sapote (Casimiroa edulis)[ 301 ]. A creamy banana-pineapple like flavour, it is said to be one of the most flavourful and refreshing fruits in the genus[ 377 ]. The fruit has an agreeable flavour, it is 8 - 10cm in diameter, but the seeds are very large, up to 2cm long[ 331 ].

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

None Known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of the moister, lowland tropics, usually growing near sea level but also found at elevations up to 1,800 metres[ 331 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23° - 26°c, but can tolerate 8° - 32°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,500 - 4,500mm, but tolerates 3,000 - 5,000mm[ 418 ]. Young trees seem to grow better in shade, but older trees grow well in sunny positions[ 418 ]. Prefers a moist, well-drained, sandy loam with a pH of around 6[ 200 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[ 418 ]. The tree may suffer from wind damage on exposed sites[ 418 ]. Trees can commence fruiting in just 4 years from seed, by which time they are 4 - 6 metres tall[ 377 , 418 ]. Trees flower on the previous year's growth[ 377 ]. The fruit of this species has a thick exocarp, making it suitable for long-distant transport[ 317 ]. This gives it potential in breeding programmes with other members of the genus to develop fruits with thick skins suitable for shipping[ 46 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - usually breeds true to type[ 200 ]. Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21c[ 200 ]. 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 ]. Semi-ripe cuttings[ 200 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Posh-te tree, Hardshell custard-apple, Posh te custard-apple

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico, Chiapas, SOUTHERN AMERICA: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras,

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.

Minor host of: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly)

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Annona atemoyaAtemoyaTree8.0 10-12 FLMHND502
Annona cherimolaCherimoya, Custard AppleTree9.0 8-12 FLMHNDM522
Annona mucosaWild SweetsopTree12.0 10-12 FLMHNM512
Annona muricataSour SopTree7.0 10-12 FLMHSNM432
Annona salzmanniiBeach Sugar AppleTree12.0 10-12 SLMSNM402
Annona squamosaSugar Apple, Sweetsop, Custard AppleTree6.0 10-12 SLMNDM522
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Asimina trilobaPapawShrub4.5 5-8 SMSNM423
Cananga odorataYlang Ylang, Perfume TreeTree20.0 10-12 FLMHSNM234
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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

Baill.

Botanical References

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Subject : Annona liebmanniana  
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