Soursop
Annona muricata
- Native to:
- Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Virgin Islands
Damien Boilley (www.flickr.com) from suburbs of Paris, France
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Annonaceae
- Genus:
- Annona
- Species:
- Annona muricata
- USDA Symbol:
- ANMU2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ectomyelois decolor, Omphalocera cariosa
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bats, small mammals
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers organic matter-rich soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 15–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds lose viability quickly and should be planted fresh. Germination improved by removing fleshy aril and planting in warm conditions above 25°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI