Soursop (guanábana) Annona muricata
Soursop (guanábana) (Annona muricata) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Annonaceae family, native to Tropical Americas and the Caribbean. It grows 4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.
Plan Soursop (guanábana) in your garden →
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Soursop (guanábana) at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Annonaceae |
| Mature height | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 4 m (13 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 156–209 weeks after planting, for 13–26 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: fruit pulp (juice, ice cream) |
| Native to | Tropical Americas and the Caribbean |
| Common in gardens of | 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Is Soursop (guanábana) toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: seeds, leaves
Seeds and leaves contain annonacin, linked to atypical parkinsonism with heavy long-term use.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Soursop (guanábana)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Soursop (guanábana)
- How far apart should I plant Soursop (guanábana)?
- About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Soursop (guanábana) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Soursop (guanábana) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Soursop (guanábana)?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Soursop (guanábana) flower?
- About 156–209 weeks after planting, for 13–26 weeks.
- Is Soursop (guanábana) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Seeds and leaves contain annonacin, linked to atypical parkinsonism with heavy long-term use.
- What grows well with Soursop (guanábana)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Soursop (guanábana). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- PROSEA: Plant Resources of South-East Asia, PROSEA Foundation, Bogor
Notes and assumptions
- Spiny green fruit up to 30 cm. The least cold-hardy annona; hand pollination improves fruit shape.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Pawpaw Asimina triloba
- Cherimoya Annona cherimola
- Ylang-ylang Cananga odorata
- Sugar apple (sweetsop) Annona squamosa
- Custard apple (bullock’s heart) Annona reticulata
- Climbing ylang-ylang (karawek) Artabotrys hexapetalus
- Grains of Selim (Ethiopian pepper, uda) Xylopia aethiopica
- Wild custard apple (African custard apple) Annona senegalensis