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Summary

Beach sugar apple or Annona salzmannii is a tropical, evergreen tree native to Brazil that can grow up to 12 - 15 m tall. It has an elongated, fairly open crown. The leaves are thick and leathery. Near the axils of the leaves are the flowers that occur either alone or in pairs. The heart-shaped, orange fruit of beach sugar apple has a very sweet, succulent pulp that is fibreless and very appetizing. It can be eaten raw, fresh from the tree. The wood is used for fuel and charcoal-making.

Physical Characteristics

Annona salzmannii is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) 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 saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[ 377 ]. The succulent pulp is very sweet, fibreless and very tasty[ 377 , 416 , 625 ]. The green skinned fruit can be 10cm long and 9cm wide, weighing up to 450g[ 377 , 625 ].

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

Charcoal Fuel

Other uses rating: Low (2/5). Other Uses: The wood is light in weight, with moderate resistance to insect attack, difficult to saw and cut[ 625 ]. It is only used for fuel and to make charcoal[ 625 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of lowland tropical areas[ 377 , 416 ]. Prefers a sunny position[ 625 ]. Prefers a well-drained, sandy soil[ 625 ]. Succeeds on saline soils[ 625 ].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - it has a very hard outer layer and germinates much more easily if scarified[ 625 ]. 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. Sow the seeds in individual containers in a lightly shaded position. Germination rates of scarified seeds can above 95%, with the seeds sprouting within 40 - 50 days[ 625 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Beach sugar apple or Annona salzmannii

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Found In: Brazil, South America.

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 itâ€™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 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 mucosa	Wild Sweetsop	Tree	12.0	10-12	F	LMH	N	M	5	1	2
Annona muricata	Sour Sop	Tree	7.0	10-12	F	LMH	SN	M	4	3	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

A.DC.

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.

Annona salzmannii - A.DC.