Overview

Bring the taste of the tropics to your home with the Lisa Atemoya live plant. This exquisite fruit tree is a hybrid of the cherimoya and sugar apple, known scientifically as Annona squamosa x Annona cherimola. The Lisa variety is celebrated for its exceptional fruit quality, offering a creamy, sweet, and aromatic flavor profile that is highly sought after by tropical fruit enthusiasts. Our Lisa Atemoya live plant arrives as a vibrant 1-foot tall specimen, ready to establish itself in your garden or a large container. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to expand their edible landscape with a unique and rewarding tropical fruit plant.

Atemoyas are deciduous to semi-deciduous trees, meaning they may shed some or all of their leaves depending on the climate. They thrive in warm, subtropical to tropical conditions and can be quite productive once mature. Growing your own Atemoya fruit tree allows you to enjoy fresh, organic produce right from your backyard, making it a fantastic addition for both experienced and novice gardeners interested in exotic fruits.

Key Benefits

Adding a Lisa Atemoya live plant to your collection offers numerous advantages, from its delicious fruit to its aesthetic appeal. This tropical gem provides more than just a harvest; it enhances your garden and culinary experiences in several ways:

• Superior Fruit Quality: The Lisa Atemoya is renowned for producing large, heart-shaped fruits with a sweet, custard-like flesh and fewer seeds compared to other varieties. Its rich, tropical flavor is often described as a blend of pineapple, mango, and vanilla, making it a true gourmet delight.
• Exotic Garden Addition: This tropical fruit plant brings an exotic touch to any landscape or patio. Its attractive foliage and unique fruit development are sure to be a conversation starter and a focal point in your outdoor space.
• Container Growing Potential: For those in cooler climates or with limited space, the Lisa Atemoya can be successfully grown in large containers, allowing you to move it indoors during colder months. This flexibility makes it accessible to a wider range of gardeners.
• Health Benefits: Atemoya fruits are packed with vitamins (especially Vitamin C), minerals, and dietary fiber, contributing to a healthy diet. Enjoying fresh, home-grown fruit ensures you’re getting maximum nutritional value.
• Rewarding Cultivation: Witnessing the growth of your own Atemoya fruit tree from a young plant to a fruit-bearing specimen is incredibly satisfying. The relatively low maintenance once established makes it a rewarding endeavor for plant lovers.
• Unique Culinary Ingredient: Beyond eating fresh, the sweet flesh of the Atemoya can be used in smoothies, desserts, ice creams, and exotic fruit salads, offering versatile culinary applications.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Lisa Atemoya live plant requires attention to its tropical needs, but with the right conditions, it can thrive and produce abundant fruit. This cherimoya atemoya hybrid prefers a warm, frost-free environment. It needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to flourish and set fruit. If growing in a container, place it in the sunniest spot available. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch, especially for young plants.

Watering is crucial, especially during dry periods and when the plant is actively growing or fruiting. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly before watering again. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot. A well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.0) is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage, or sandy soils to increase water retention. Fertilize regularly during the growing season (spring through fall) with a balanced fertilizer formulated for fruit trees. Reduce fertilization in winter. Pruning should be done to maintain a manageable size, encourage branching, and remove any dead or diseased wood. Pollination can sometimes be a challenge; hand-pollination is often recommended for better fruit set, especially for young trees or if natural pollinators are scarce. Protect your tropical fruit plant from temperatures below 30°F (-1°C) by bringing it indoors or providing frost protection.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Lisa Atemoya live plant, which stands approximately 1-foot tall at the time of shipping. It is typically shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a robust root system for easy transplanting. The growth rate of the Atemoya fruit tree is moderate, and it can eventually reach heights of 15-20 feet if planted in the ground, though it can be kept smaller with regular pruning, especially when grown in containers. Expect the plant to begin bearing fruit within 3-5 years under optimal growing conditions. The fruits usually ripen in late summer to fall, depending on your climate zone. This Annona squamosa hybrid is a deciduous to semi-deciduous tree, so some leaf drop during cooler months is normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This Lisa Atemoya live plant is 1 foot tall when shipped. If planted in the ground, it can grow up to 15-20 feet tall, but it can be maintained at a smaller size with pruning, especially when grown in a large container.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The Lisa Atemoya live plant is typically shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, ensuring a healthy and established root system for successful transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Atemoya fruit tree thrives outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, it can be grown in a large pot and brought indoors during winter to protect it from frost.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth and fruit production, your tropical fruit plant requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It prefers full sun but can benefit from some afternoon shade in extremely hot regions.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While not as hands-off as some houseplants, the Lisa Atemoya live plant is considered moderately easy to care for once its basic needs for warmth, sunlight, and consistent moisture are met. Hand-pollination can improve fruit set.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Lisa Atemoya live plant will arrive as a healthy, vibrant specimen in its nursery pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit. Some leaf drop might occur due to shipping stress, which is normal.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your Atemoya fruit tree is in spring or early summer, allowing it ample time to establish before cooler temperatures arrive. If growing in a container, it can be planted year-round indoors.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: With proper care, your cherimoya atemoya hybrid can begin to bloom and produce fruit within 3-5 years. Fruit usually ripens in late summer to fall.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: The Lisa Atemoya live plant is sensitive to frost and should be protected from temperatures below 30°F (-1°C). Bring container-grown plants indoors or provide frost cover for in-ground plants in marginal zones.
• Q: Can I use the fruit in cooking? A: Absolutely! The sweet, creamy flesh of the Atemoya is delicious eaten fresh, but it also makes an excellent addition to smoothies, ice cream, sorbets, and other desserts.