Chirimoya (Custard Apple) Trees, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Chirimoya, also called cherimoya or custard apple, is a creamy, sweet fruit tree that can grow in Southwest Florida but is pickier than mango or avocado. It prefers cool, dry weather, so our hot, humid, rainy summers make fruit set erratic here. It suits a collector who has a sunny, well-drained spot and does not mind hand-pollinating flowers.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Moderate to regular; needs well-drained soil, since wet feet cause root rot
- Salt:
- Low; keep it away from salt spray and salty irrigation water
Chirimoya (Custard Apple) sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Chirimoya (Custard Apple) | 15 Gallon |
Chirimoya (Custard Apple) in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 15 to 25 ft tall and about as wide; easily kept smaller with pruning
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate to regular; needs well-drained soil, since wet feet cause root rot
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep it away from salt spray and salty irrigation water
- Cold tolerance
- Mature trees take a light frost better than most tropical fruit trees, but young trees burn near freezing and it may drop leaves in a cool winter; cover young trees inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Florida native
- No, native to the Andes of South America
- Botanical name
- Annona cherimola
Where Chirimoya (Custard Apple) works in a SW Florida yard
Treat chirimoya as a single specimen fruit tree, not a hedge or a screen. Give it full sun, a well-drained spot and enough reach for you to hand-pollinate flowers and pick fruit, which means pruning it to a manageable height.
It sits well in a mixed fruit planting with sugar apple, mamey sapote or avocado, away from the pool and out of low spots that hold water.
- Rare fruit collections
- Backyard fruit tree
- Mixed tropical fruit planting
How our crew plants it
Drainage decides whether this tree lives, so we set the root ball on a gentle mound if the spot stays wet in summer. The hole is two to three times as wide as the 15 gallon pot and no deeper, with the root flare at or above grade.
We water in and mulch off the trunk. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings.
Care after planting
- Hand-pollinate open flowers with a small brush during the bloom period, since natural pollination is unreliable.
- Prune to keep the tree under about 10 to 12 ft so you can reach the flowers and fruit.
- Feed lightly a few times a year with a balanced fertilizer that includes micronutrients, skipping June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Water regularly while it is young and in dry spells, but never let the root zone stay soggy.
What to watch for
- The seeds are toxic if crushed or chewed, so keep them away from pets and small children.
- Fungal leaf spots and fruit rots are more likely in our humid rainy season, so thin the canopy for airflow.
Chirimoya (Custard Apple) questions we hear
Will a chirimoya tree grow in Cape Coral?+
It will grow, but fruiting is the challenge. Chirimoya prefers cool, dry weather, and hot, humid summers can hurt fruit set and invite fungal problems. Well-drained soil, full sun, hand-pollination and some patience improve your odds. Expect a project tree, not a sure crop like mango.
Does chirimoya need hand pollination in Florida?+
Often, yes. Chirimoya flowers open in a female stage first and shed pollen later, and natural pollination is unreliable, so many growers in Florida hand-pollinate with a small brush. It is a short, simple job once you know the flower stages, and skipping it is a common reason for poor fruit set.
How big does a chirimoya tree get?+
Expect about 15 to 25 ft tall and nearly as wide if you leave it alone. Most growers prune to 10 to 12 ft so they can reach the flowers and fruit. Growth is moderate, and it may drop leaves in a cool winter. Plant it away from the house and out of low, wet ground.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Chirimoya (Custard Apple)
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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