FNPS Plant Database

Annona glabra

pond-apple, custard-apple

Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pond-apple, custard-apple

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Annona glabra

Family:

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.

Availability:

Native Plant Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Friends

Propagation:

Seed, grafting

Light:

Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

<--------------------> ----|----|----|----|----|----|---

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 (muck), Sand

Soil pH:

Neutral to somewhat calcareous (7 to 8)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A, 10B, 11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Bird nesting area and food source. Fruit used by mammals such as raccoons and opossums.

Pollinators, Moths, Caterpillars

Larval food source for Giant sphinx (Cocytius antaeus). Pollinated by beetles.

Native Habitats:

Swamps and sloughs

Natural Range in Florida:

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.

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. Natives For Your Neighborhood.( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Annoglab ), accessed 2025. Institute for Regional Conservation, Delray Beach, FL.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. 1999. Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Nelson, Gil. 2003. Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Workman, Richard W. 1980. Growing Native: Native Plants for Landscape Use in Coastal South Florida. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc.: Sanibel, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Request an update