Atemoya 'Geffner' (Annona × atemoya)
Regular price $149.95Meet the beloved Atemoya, a rare cross between Cherimoya and Sugar Apple. Its name, "Atemoya'', stems from Sugar Apple’s Mexican name, "ate", and the later portion of Cherimoya’s "moya".
A member of the Annonaceae family, Atemoya bears distinctive aesthetics with rinds of fused, angular areoles of pea green to pale blue hues. Weighing up to 5 lbs a piece, the tropical deciduous hybrid of Sugar Apple and Cherimoya grows sweet, sub-acidic tasty fruits. The fruit’s flesh takes on a snowy-white interior and bears a custard-textured bite. The tree’s perfect hide-and-seek drooping-branches carry leathery leaves and triangular, yellow-blossoms bearing potent fragrance.
Crossed initially in 1908 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's subtropical laboratory in Miami, P.J. Wester planted the first Atemoya seedlings in 1910. Their first fruits were said to be superior to the Sugar Apple and similar in flavor to Cherimoya. The fruits, when harvested, must be clipped from the branch with care once areoles widen and bear creamy lines at their edges. Eat Atemoya out of hand or try juicing it!
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Annona spp. (various species including A. squamosa, A. reticulata, A. muricata, A. glabra, A. cherimola) |
| Common Names | Sugar Apple, Red Custard Apple, Soursop, Pond Apple, Cherimoya, Annona |
| Family | Annonaceae |
| Origin | Tropical Americas (Caribbean, Central & South America) |
| Plant Type | Tropical/Subtropical Evergreen or Semi-Deciduous Fruit Tree/Shrub |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Mature Size | Up to 35 ft. |
| Light | Full Sun, Part Shade (best fruit production with more sun) |
| Water Needs | Moderate to High (regular moisture; avoid waterlogging; deep watering during growing/fruiting seasons; reduced watering in winter dormancy) |
| Soil | Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil |
| Bloom Time | Spring to Summer |
| Flower Color | Greenish-Yellow to Pale Green |
| USDA Zones | Outdoors 9–11 (with frost protection until established); Patio/Greenhouse 4+ |
| Florida Native | No |
| Propagation | Seed, Air-layering (our Annonas are grown from seed and air-layering and can fruit in 2–5 years) |
| Seasonal Traits | Semi-Deciduous in cooler temps; may defoliate below ~40°F; evergreen in deep tropics |
| Growth Rate | Fast to Medium |
| Self-Fertile | Yes |
| Harvest Season | Late Summer – Fall |
| Time to Harvest | 2–5 Years (varies by species and growing conditions) |
| Notes | Annona (from Taíno annon) is a genus in the pawpaw/sugar apple family, Annonaceae. The name derives from anón, a Hispaniolan Taíno word for the fruit. Includes Sugar Apple, Red Custard Apple, Soursop, Cherimoya, and Pond Apple varieties. |
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