Cherimoya

Overview

Cherimoya bears heart-shaped green fruit with creamy white flesh that tastes like banana, pineapple, and vanilla.

History

Native to the Andes of South America, so it prefers mild, cooler conditions.

Growing on Kauaʻi

• Best at mid to higher elevations; struggles in hot, humid lowlands.
• Needs good drainage and wind shelter.

Planting and propagation

• Grafted trees fruit sooner and more reliably.
• Plant in rich, well-drained soil and mulch.

Care and maintenance

• Hand-pollinate flowers with a small brush for much better fruit set.
• Prune to keep fruit reachable.

Role in the guild

A sub-canopy fruit tree for cooler upland guilds.

Harvest

Pick when the skin turns slightly yellow-green and gives a little to gentle pressure, then ripen at room temperature.

Uses

• Food: fresh with a spoon; don’t eat the seeds.

Important caution

Don’t eat the seeds. Cherimoya seeds are toxic if crushed or chewed.

Problems to watch

• Poor fruit set without hand pollination.
• Fruit flies.

General guidance for Kauaʻi; conditions vary by site. Check any new plant at plantpono.org before planting.