Common Name: Custard Apple

General Information

Annona squamosa, the custard apple, is an attractive, slow-growing deciduous shrub or small tree with a rounded or spreading, open crown[]. Usually branching from near the base, it can reach a height of around 3 - 6 metres[, ].
Producing a very popular fruit, the tree is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas around the world for its edible fruit[]. It is commonly sold in markets[]. The tree is also sometimes grown as an ornamental, being valued especially for the colour of its fruits[].
Annona squamosa has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Caribbean.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Annona squamosa succeeds in subtropical to tropical areas at elevations up to 2,000 metres, with a mean annual temperature up to 41°c and a mean annual rainfall above 700mm[]. They are said to do well in hot and relatively dry climates such as those of the low-lying interior plains of many tropical countries[]. Plants can tolerate occasional light frosts[].
Prefers a moist but well-drained, sandy loam with a pH around 6[]. Also succeeds on rocky, alkaline soils with a pH up to 8[].
Widely grown as a commercial fruit tree both within its native range and in tropical regions around the world, the species has often escaped from cultivation and become naturalised as a weed. It has become invasive in places such as French Polynesia and Nauru in the Pacific, and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. The species is known to be a weed in Jamaica and Cambodia, is likely to become invasive in other countries, and may be particularly problematic on tropical islands[].
The tree has a reputation, particularly in India, of being a hardy, drought-resistant crop. This is only partly correct. Although the rest period and leaf fall enable the tree to bridge a severe dry season, it requires adequate moisture during the growing season[].
Trees start to bear fruit when 3 - 4 years old[]. A mature tree, 5 metres high, produces several dozen fruits in a season[].
There are some named varieties[].
The leaves give off a peculiar smell when crushed[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The sweet and creamy fruits are highly regarded as a dessert fruit[]. They can also be used to make sherbet, ice cream, jellies etc[]. The fruit is up to 10cm in diameter, the pulp containing numerous hard brown to black seeds each around 10 - 15mm long[, ].

Medicinal

Leaves, shoots, bark and roots have been reported to have medicinal properties[]. They are all strongly astringent and are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[]. The green fruits, seeds and leaves have effective vermicidal properties[].

The young shoots, combined with peppermint, are used in the West Indies to relieve colds and chills[]. In Cuba, the leaves are taken to lower uric acid levels in the blood[].

The crushed leaves are applied topically as an effective cure for ulcers and malignant sores[]. A poultice made from the fresh leaves is used in the treatment of dyspepsia and, when mixed with oil, is used is used in the treatment of scalp diseases[]. The crushed fresh leaves are applied to the nasal area in cases of fainting spells[].

The unripe fruit is astringent[].

The root is a drastic purgative[].

The bark and leaves, combined with those of Annona muricata, are used in a sedative infusion[]. The leaves are put under the pillow of young children so they don't wake up at night[1783[.

An infusion of the leaves and fruit is used to aid digestion and treat rheumatism[].

An oil distilled from the leaves is applied to the head for treating sleeplessness[].

The powdered seeds are an excellent vermifuge[].

Extracts of the plant have shown anticancer activity[].

The astringent bark, leaves, unripe fruit and seed can be used as a source of the alkaloid anonaine for use in the pharmaceutical industry[].

Other Uses

The green fruits, seeds and leaves have effective vermicidal and insecticidal properties[].

The seeds contain the insecticide acetogin[].

The fibrous bark has sometimes been used locally for cordage[].

The light yellow sapwood and brownish heartwood are soft, light in weight and weak[].
The tree is a good source of firewood[].

Propagation

Seed - usually breeds true to type[]. Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21°c[]. They germinate within 2 - 4 weeks, and the seedlings are ready for planting out after 6 months[].
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[].
Semi-ripe cuttings[].
Budding is done at the beginning of the growing season when the sap flows freely. Cleft-grafting is the method more commonly used.
Air-layering

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