Soursop
Annona muricata
Soursop is a tropical evergreen tree in the custard apple family, bearing large, spiny, dark green heart-shaped fruit. It is sensitive to cold and demands a warm, frost-free climate.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Keep consistently moist; never dry out
- Difficulty
- Hard
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Overview
Soursop (Annona muricata), known as graviola or guanábana, is a small tropical evergreen fruiting tree in the custard apple family. Its distinctive heart-shaped, spiny fruit can weigh several pounds.
The tree is strictly tropical, intolerant of frost, drought, and even cool weather, which makes it challenging outside truly warm climates. In suitable conditions it is fast-growing and productive.
It is widely planted across the global tropics as a fruiting tree and shade ornamental.
How to identify it
- Fruit: Large (up to 10+ in), oval to heart-shaped, dark green with soft, curved spines; white fibrous pulp inside
- Leaves: Glossy, dark green, oblong, leathery, with a strong scent when crushed
- Flowers: Yellow-green, three-petaled, fleshy, borne directly on the trunk and branches
- Size: Typically 15–30 ft tall, upright and somewhat open
- Habit: Evergreen, low-branching tropical tree
Care & growing
Light: Full sun for best growth, though it tolerates partial shade when young.
Water: Requires consistently moist soil; it is not drought-tolerant and suffers if allowed to dry out, but also dislikes waterlogging.
Soil: Well-draining, sandy-loam, slightly acidic to neutral; sensitive to salinity.
Temperature: Strictly tropical; damaged below about 40°F and killed by frost. Best in USDA zones 10–11 with high humidity.
Feeding: Regular balanced fertilizer through the growing season supports its fast growth.
Propagation: Usually from fresh seed (which germinates readily) or by grafting for named selections. Hand pollination often improves fruit set.
Habitat & origin
Soursop is native to the tropical regions of the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. It has spread throughout the global tropics, including Southeast Asia, West Africa, and tropical Pacific islands.
It grows naturally in warm, humid lowland forests and is cultivated in home gardens and small orchards. Outside the tropics it can only be grown in greenhouses or as a protected container plant.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow soursop outside the tropics?
Only with protection. It is extremely frost-sensitive and needs warmth and humidity, so in cool climates it must be grown in a heated greenhouse or as an indoor container plant.
How big does a soursop tree get?
It is a fairly small tree, typically 15-30 ft tall, with an upright, somewhat open, low-branching habit.
What do soursop flowers look like?
The flowers are yellow-green, three-petaled, and fleshy, and are borne directly on the trunk and main branches rather than only at the branch tips.
Where is soursop native?
It is native to the tropical Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America, and has since spread throughout the global tropics.
Soursop guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Soursop.
