Common Name: Atemoya

General Information

Annona × atemoya is a fast-growing deciduous tree that can reach a height of 7 - 9 metres[]. The tree has a short bole with the branches typically drooping and the lowest ones touching the ground[]. The tree is a garden hybrid, the result of a cross between A. cherimola and A. squamosa[].
Said to be one of the best tasting fruits in the world, it is often cultivated in gardens and commercial orchards[]. The tree can be grown in warmer regions of the tropics than Annona cherimola and so is widely cultivated there for its edible fruit[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

A garden hybrid, Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa.

Habitat

A hybrid of garden origin, it is not known in the wild.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Beetles
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

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[]. Plants can tolerate occasional light frosts[]. 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[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 600 - 4,200mm[].
Prefers a moist, sandy loam with a pH around 6[]. Tolerant of a range of soil conditions[]. Requires a moist but well-drained soil[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
Trees start producing fruit when about 4 - 5 years old from seed, or about 2 - 3 years after grafting[].
Mature trees produce from 23 - 34 kg per tree, possibly more with good management, or 5 - 20 tonnes/ha per year[].
Plants sometimes have two distinct flowering periods each year[]. Fruiting is improved if the flowers are hand pollinated[].
The fruit has good shipping qualities[].
There are many named varieties[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. Delicious[]. A sweetish flavour[]. The fruit contains 18% sugar, it can be utilized as a flavouring of ice-cream, sherbets and beverages[]. Of excellent quality, it resembles A. Cherimola more than it does A. Squamosa[]. The fruit is about 8 - 15cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plants can be used as rootstocks for cultivars of this species and for other Annona species[].

The green fruit and seed have vermicidal and insecticidal properties[].

Propagation

Seed - normally only used to produce plants used as rootstocks[]. The seed usually germinates in about 4 weeks[].
Semi-ripe cuttings[].
Grafting

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