Annona glabra
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Pond-apple, Custard-apple
Annonaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Tree | |
| Size: | 15-30 (48) ft tall by 15-20 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White,yellow | |
| Fruit Color: | Green | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous to semi-deciduous. Blooms mid- to late spring. | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant or mass planting in wet soils. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Fruit litter may be a problem in in small landscapes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed, grafting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Friends, Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Aquatic ----- to ----- Usually moist, occasional inundation) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Aquatic ----- to ----- Usually moist, occasional inundation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Neutral to somewhat calcareous | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Bird nesting area and food source. Fruit used by mammals such as raccoons. | |
| Insects: | Larval food source for Giant sphinx (Cocytius antaeus). Pollinated by beetles. | |
| Native Habitats: | Swamps and sloughs |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | The Seminole Indians used this plant to make a cleaning product and as a food source (fruits). Seeds are said to be toxic. The fruits have been used to make jelly and custard. Major pond apple forests along the southern rim of Lake Okeechobee were destroyed for agriculture early in the 20th century. | |
| General Comments: | In Australia, pond apple is a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts. |