Editing Annona × atemoya

'''Atemoya''' ('''''Annona × atemoya'''''; also atemoya; pineapple sugar apple; custard-apple hybrid) is a Annonaceae fruit plant grown for its aggregate fruit.

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 400px; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[File:Annona atemoya.jpg|thumb|center|250px|Annona × atemoya fruit, flower, or plant habit. Wikimedia Commons file page.]]
|-
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Atemoya (''Annona × atemoya '')
|-
! Scientific name
|| ''Annona × atemoya''
|-
! Genus
|| [[Annona]]
|-
! Family
|| [[Annonaceae]]
|-
! Order
|| [[Magnoliales]]
|-
! Fruit type
|| Aggregate fruit
|-
! Growth form
|| Small evergreen to semi-evergreen tree
|-
! Climate and hardiness
|| Tropical to warm subtropical
|-
! Mature height
|| 4–8 m
|-
! Mature width
|| 3–6 m
|-
! Soil
|| Well-drained soil with organic matter; avoid prolonged wetness
|-
! Water
|| Regular moisture during flowering and fruit fill; moderate drought tolerance once established
|-
! Sun
|| Full sun; shelter from strong wind
|-
! Germination
|| Seed is not true to type; named cultivars are propagated clonally
|-
! Years to fruit
|| 2–4 years grafted
|-
! Pollination
|| Hand pollination often improves set; flowers are protogynous
|-
! Harvest
|| Usually warm-season; crop timing varies with cultivar and climate
|}

== Identification and description ==
Atemoya is a cultivated hybrid between sugar apple and cherimoya, combining traits from both parents. Fruit are green, knobbly, and sweet with custard-like flesh; cultivar differences in texture and seediness are substantial.

The accepted genus, family, and order are [[Annona]], [[Annonaceae]], and [[Magnoliales]]. Common names may cover related taxa; check the scientific name before transferring cultivation advice.

== Growing ==
Atemoya combines cherimoya and sugar-apple traits and is grown in warm subtropical and tropical climates. Give it excellent drainage, regular moisture during growth, and hand-pollinate when local insects or weather limit fruit set.

The hybrid performs best in warm sites with a distinct but not severe seasonal rhythm. It needs drainage and steady moisture but not a permanently wet root zone. Prune after harvest to keep the canopy open and to produce manageable new fruiting wood.

=== Soil ===
Well-drained soil with organic matter; avoid prolonged wetness.

=== Sun and humidity ===
Full sun; shelter from strong wind. Native habitat and airflow matter as much as light intensity; avoid enclosing humid foliage without ventilation.

=== Seasonal changes ===
Flowering follows a warm flush and can be manipulated by pruning and irrigation. In seasonal climates, flowering may occur during the dry-to-wet transition, with fruit maturing during the warm rainy period. Protect developing fruit from prolonged cold and excessive wet weather.

== Propagation ==
Named atemoyas are grafted or budded. Seedlings are useful for rootstocks and breeding but vary widely. Hand pollination is both a propagation-adjacent skill and a production necessity in climates where beetles or other natural pollinators are scarce.

[[File:Annona atemoya seeds.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Field view or fruit detail of Annona × atemoya. Wikimedia Commons file page.]]

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==
Usually warm-season; crop timing varies with cultivar and climate. Flowering and ripening are strongly affected by latitude, cultivar, rootstock, rainfall, and temperature; local records are more useful than a single universal calendar.

== Fruit and uses ==
Eat ripe flesh fresh with a spoon or chill it for dessert. It is also used in shakes, ice cream, custards, and fruit salads. Remove the seeds; they are not edible.


== Commentary ==
Growers are invited to share observations about Atemoya on the [[Talk:Annona × atemoya|talk page]], especially climate, provenance, propagation method, plant age, flowering season, and fruit quality.


== Photos ==

The images above show documented fruit, flower, or plant-habit views. See the individual Commons file pages in the image credits for authorship and license details.

== Sources ==
* [https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/atemoya.html Purdue NewCROP: Atemoya]
* [https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG330 UF/IFAS: Atemoya]
* [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Annona+atemoya Useful Tropical Plants: Annona × atemoya]



== Image credits ==

* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annona_atemoya.jpg Annona atemoya.jpg] — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.
* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annona_atemoya_seeds.jpg Annona atemoya seeds.jpg] — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.

[[Category:Fruits]]
[[Category:Annonaceae]]
[[Category:Annona]]