Ata
Annona squamosa
Fruit Plants & Bushes Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
Annona squamosa (sugar apple or custard apple or ‘Ata’ in Odia, also called Sharifa) is a small deciduous tree of the Annonaceae family. The tree produces green heart-shaped fruits with sweet custard-like pulp — eaten fresh or used in ice cream. The tree is drought-tolerant and is extensively cultivated in tropical India. Leaves and bark are used in traditional medicine.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
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Light
Full sun
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Water
Regular; moderately drought-tolerant
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Humidity
Moderate
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Temperature
15-38°C
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Soil
Well-draining loam
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Fertilizer
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian Subcontinent
- 📏 Max height
- 10-20 m
- 📐 Spread
- 4-6 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 40+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Leaf spot, caterpillar defoliation
💡 Care tips
- Plant in well-draining soil with appropriate light. Tolerates Indian tropical conditions.
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