Annona cherimola (Cherimoya)

Annona cherimola

Family: Annonaceae

Common names: Cherimoya

It is a fast-growing, upright somewhat shrubby, briefly deciduous or semi-deciduous tree, often branching from low down and with a dense, spreading crown; it can grow around 3 – 10 metres tall. The bole is short. The fruit of the cherimoya is said to be one of the finest of all tropical fruits. Long cultivated for this fruit, it had already been introduced throughout Mesoamerica and to much of South America before Europeans came to the continent. It is now widely cultivated in frost-free subtropical and cooler tropical regions throughout the world for its fruit. A delicious flavour, tasting like a cross between a banana and a pineapple. The white flesh of the ripe cherimoya is sweet, juicy and very fragrant. It is most commonly eaten out of hand, or scooped with a spoon from the cut open fruit. It can also be used in making ice cream, custard, cakes etc.

Sowing instructions: Sow seeds in summer in a well drained medium.

Locality: Ex Hort. Harvest: November 2024