Wild custard apple
Annona senegalensis
A small savanna tree with sweet, pineapple-scented fruit.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 15 ft tall, 10 ft wide
Harvest: November to March
From: Tropical Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
The wild custard apple of the African savanna was eaten by every hunter-gatherer and herder from Senegal to South Africa, and its bark and roots went into medicine; it is the African parent of Annona hybrids bred for drier tropics.
Planting
Full sun, drained sandy soil, heat, and a dry season; no frost. Plant seed; a 15-foot shrub or tree.
Growing
Water young plants, then little. Prune lightly after harvest.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens orange in the dry season; eat the soft pulp fresh or juice it. Discard the seeds.
What to watch for
Frost and fruit borers.
See if Wild custard apple fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home