Annona squamosa, the custard apple, is an attractive, slow-growing deciduous shrub or small tree.
It has a rounded or spreading, open crown and reaches a height of 3 - 6 metres.
Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas for its edible fruit, commonly sold in markets.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation

Cultivation Status

Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Trees succeed in subtropical to tropical areas up to 2,000 metres elevation.
Mean annual temperature up to 41°C, mean annual rainfall above 700mm.
Tolerates occasional light frosts.
Prefers moist, well-drained sandy loam, pH around 6.
Also grows on rocky, alkaline soils up to pH 8.
Requires adequate moisture during growing season despite drought tolerance.
Starts fruiting at 3 - 4 years old, mature trees produce dozens of fruits per season.
Some named varieties.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. Sweet and creamy, highly regarded as dessert fruit.
Used to make sherbet, ice cream, jellies, etc.
Fruit up to 10cm in diameter.

Medicinal

Leaves, shoots, bark, and roots reported to have medicinal properties.
Strongly astringent; used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery.
Green fruits, seeds, leaves effective vermicidal.
Young shoots with peppermint relieve colds, chills.
In Cuba, leaves lower uric acid levels.
Unripe fruit astringent, root drastic purgative.
Leaves and fruit infusion aids digestion, treats rheumatism.
Oil from leaves applied to head for sleeplessness.
Powdered seeds excellent vermifuge.
Extracts show anticancer activity.

Agroforestry Uses

None Recorded

Other Uses

Green fruits, seeds, leaves effective vermicidal, insecticidal.
Seeds contain acetogenin insecticide.
Fibrous bark used locally for cordage.
Light yellow sapwood, brownish heartwood soft, light, weak.
Tree good source of firewood.

Propagation

Seed - usually breeds true to type.
Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21°C.
Germination within 2 - 4 weeks; seedlings ready for planting out after 6 months.
Seed coat hard; scarification with nearly boiling water and soaking speeds germination.
Semi-ripe cuttings.
Budding at beginning of growing season.
Cleft-grafting common method.
Air-layering.