Mountain Soursop (Annona Montana)

The Mountain Soursop, also known as the Guanabana de Monte, is a tropical/subtropical semi-deciduous fruit tree/shrub native to the West Indies, Peru and Brazil. A member of the Annonaceae (

Annona

) family, the Mountain Soursop is related to the

Soursop

, but can be distinguished by its lighter, greenish-yellow fruit exterior and more mild flavor. The Mountain Soursop tolerates cold temperatures far easier than the typical Soursop and can be found growing wild in higher elevations than its relatives.

Because of its adaptive qualities, the Mountain Soursop plant is often used as a compatible grafting rootstock for many other anonas. It grows a glossy canopy up to 30 ft. high with fragrant small, green-yellow flowers. These will bloom both male and female flowers, however, always at different times. This makes the Mountain Soursop tempting to grow in pairs for ease of pollination! The pollinated flowers produce fruit anywhere from summer to fall. 

The Mountain Soursop fruit is round and fleshy with soft white, creamy flesh. It bears a fibrous texture and tastes somewhere between bitter and sour, with a mild resemblance to its

Soursop relatives

. It’s found in ice creams, fresh juices, jams and more, but the main attraction comes within the leaves. The acetogenin-rich leaves and bark are useful for sedative and anti-inflammatory decoctions and have been said to benefit ailments ranging anywhere from cough to diabetes. And there’s no easier way to access their benefits than to grow it in your backyard!