Hardshell custard-apple, Posh-te
Annona liebmanniana

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

Posh-te or Annona liebmanniana is an evergreen tree that usually grows up to 20 m in height. It can be found in Central America particularly in South Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It is known for its delicious and aromatic fruit that is best eaten raw fresh from the tree. The fruit's flesh is soft-textured and cream in color while its exocarp is thick. Seeds are large, up to 2cm long.

Annona liebmanniana is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Moist or wet, mixed forest at elevations of 1,800 metres or less, chiefly near sea level.

Central America - south Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Belize, Central America, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, North America.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. Delicious and aromatic, it is best eaten fresh from the plant. A richer flavour than the soursop (A. muricata) with a suggestion of the flavour of the white sapote (Casimiroa edulis). A creamy banana-pineapple like flavour, it is said to be one of the most flavourful and refreshing fruits in the genus. The fruit has an agreeable flavour, it is 8 - 10cm in diameter, but the seeds are very large, up to 2cm long.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 0

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the moister, lowland tropics, usually growing near sea level but also found at elevations up to 1,800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23° - 26°c, but can tolerate 8° - 32°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,500 - 4,500mm, but tolerates 3,000 - 5,000mm. Young trees seem to grow better in shade, but older trees grow well in sunny positions. Prefers a moist, well-drained, sandy loam with a pH of around 6. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7. The tree may suffer from wind damage on exposed sites. Trees can commence fruiting in just 4 years from seed, by which time they are 4 - 6 metres tall. Trees flower on the previous year's growth. The fruit of this species has a thick exocarp, making it suitable for long-distant transport. This gives it potential in breeding programmes with other members of the genus to develop fruits with thick skins suitable for shipping.

Propagating it: Seed - usually breeds true to type. Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21c. The seed of many species in this genus has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Semi-ripe cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Minor host of: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly)

Its other names

Local names

Posh-te tree, Hardshell custard-apple, Posh te custard-apple

Synonyms

Annona scleroderma Saff. Annona testudinea Saff.