Custard Apples

Annona reticulata

In Florida, the name 'custard apple' refers specifically to the Annona reticulata variety.   Worldwide, the name is often generically applied to any member of the Annona genus, causing great confusion!

Custard apples (A reticulata) are becoming more popular in Florida as we find cultivars that are prolific here and highly self pollinating.

Growth environment

Custard apples,  like the entire annona genus of trees, grow best in warm tropical climates with temperatures of 73-94°.  They love high humidity at 70% or more.  All tend to be somewhat deciduous at 50° and below, and lose leaves even more readily in dry conditions.

Read more on annona growth environment here and here.

Fruit shapes

Fruit shapes can be variable from one cultivar to the next: they may be round, heart-shaped or even oblong.

Cultivars

'Fernandez' and 'San Pablo' are the two most popularly cultivated for resale in South Florida.

San Pablo originated in Belize, and was brought to Florida by the Zill family in the 1980's (Zill High Performance Plants, Lake Worth).

This variety is dependably self pollinating, producing about 25-35 fruits on a mature tree.  It is one of the most prolific varieties to date.  While the blooms begin to set in late summer, fruits don't mature until the following spring.

San Pablo fruits are a bright red on the outside. They have a moderately pink-red flesh and rich flavor tones with berry-like suggestions.  They have a creamy, silky pulp with no grit.  Fruits are large, usually about 1.5 lbs.  
Self pollinating;  Ripens in April.

Fernandez are also red exterior and red-pink interior, perhaps a little redder than San Pablo.  Flavor is excellent, some say even better than San Pablo, though there can be some mild grit in the pulp.  Taste described as "strawberry custard".  

Self pollinating.  Ripens March to April.