Overview

Bring the taste of the tropics to your garden with the Cherimoya El Bumpo live plant. This exquisite grafted tree is renowned for producing exceptionally delicious, medium-sized fruit with a soft, knobby skin. Known botanically as Annona cherimola, the Cherimoya is often hailed as one of the world’s finest fruits, offering a creamy, sweet, and aromatic pulp that is a true culinary delight. This particular ‘El Bumpo’ variety is celebrated for its reliable fruiting and robust growth, making it an excellent choice for both experienced growers and enthusiastic beginners looking to expand their edible landscape. Our plants are carefully nurtured to ensure they arrive healthy and ready to thrive in your care.

The grafted Cherimoya plant ensures you receive a tree with superior characteristics, including earlier fruiting and consistent fruit quality, compared to seed-grown varieties. Standing 1 to 2 feet tall upon arrival and shipped in a 3-gallon pot, this tree has a strong root system, setting it up for successful transplanting and vigorous growth in its new home. Prepare to enjoy the unique flavor and texture of homegrown Cherimoya fruit, an experience that fresh market produce simply cannot match.

Key Benefits

The Cherimoya El Bumpo live plant offers a multitude of advantages for the home gardener, blending ornamental beauty with a bountiful harvest of exquisite fruit. Its unique qualities make it a standout addition to any garden or orchard:

• Delicious Fruit Production: Enjoy abundant harvests of medium-sized, highly flavorful fruit with a creamy, sweet pulp, perfect for fresh eating or culinary creations.
• Grafted for Quality: As a grafted Cherimoya plant, this tree ensures quicker fruiting and consistent characteristics of the desirable ‘El Bumpo’ variety, guaranteeing reliable performance.
• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond its fruit, the Cherimoya tree boasts attractive foliage and a pleasing growth habit, adding a touch of tropical elegance to your landscape.
• Nutrient-Rich Harvest: Cherimoya fruit is not only delicious but also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, contributing to a healthy diet.
• Unique Flavor Profile: Often described as a blend of pineapple, banana, and strawberry, the Cherimoya offers a truly unique taste experience that is hard to find elsewhere.
• Adaptable Growth: While preferring warmer climates, the Cherimoya can be successfully grown in suitable microclimates or even in large containers in cooler regions with proper winter protection.
• Conversation Starter: Impress friends and family with your ability to grow such an exotic and sought-after fruit right in your own garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Cherimoya El Bumpo live plant involves providing the right conditions to ensure healthy growth and abundant fruit production. Cherimoyas thrive in a warm, frost-free environment, making them ideal for USDA zones 9-10. They prefer a location with full sun exposure, ideally receiving at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch. Protection from strong winds is also beneficial, especially for young trees.

The ideal soil for growing Cherimoya fruit is well-draining, fertile, and slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.5-7.0). Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or aged manure to improve drainage. When planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Water thoroughly after planting. Consistent watering is crucial, especially during dry periods and when the tree is actively growing and fruiting. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged, as this can lead to root rot. Reduce watering frequency during the dormant season.

Fertilize your Cherimoya El Bumpo tree with a balanced fertilizer formulated for fruit trees, applying it several times throughout the growing season according to package directions. Young trees benefit from regular pruning to establish a strong framework, while mature trees can be pruned to maintain size, shape, and promote fruit production. Protect young trees from frost by covering them or moving container-grown plants indoors if temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. Keep an eye out for common pests and diseases, addressing any issues promptly with appropriate organic or chemical treatments.

Size & Details

This Cherimoya El Bumpo live plant is a vigorous, healthy specimen, measuring approximately 1 to 2 feet tall from the base of the plant to the tip of its tallest stem. It is a grafted tree, which means it will produce fruit true to the ‘El Bumpo’ variety and typically begins bearing fruit earlier than trees grown from seed. The tree is shipped securely in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing ample root space for initial establishment and ensuring a strong start in your garden. The 3-gallon pot size makes it substantial enough for immediate outdoor planting in appropriate climates or continued growth in a larger container.

Cherimoya trees can eventually reach heights of 15-30 feet if left unpruned, but can be maintained at a more manageable size with regular pruning. They have a moderately fast growth rate under optimal conditions. Expect your Annona cherimola to begin flowering and fruiting within 2-4 years of planting, with the main fruiting season typically occurring from late fall through spring, depending on your specific climate. Proper care will ensure a thriving tree that yields delicious fruit for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This Cherimoya El Bumpo live plant arrives 1 to 2 feet tall. If left unpruned, the tree can reach heights of 15-30 feet, but it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning, making it suitable for various garden spaces.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The tree is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, which provides a robust root system and allows for a smooth transition to your garden or a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Cherimoya trees are primarily outdoor plants, thriving in warm, frost-free climates (USDA zones 9-10). In cooler regions, they can be grown in large containers and moved indoors during winter, or cultivated in a greenhouse.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This Cherimoya El Bumpo tree prefers full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. In extremely hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf burn.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Cherimoyas require consistent care, including regular watering, proper fertilization, and protection from frost. While not strictly beginner-friendly, with attention to its specific needs, growing Cherimoya fruit can be a rewarding experience.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Cherimoya El Bumpo live plant will arrive healthy and well-rooted in its 3-gallon pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit. We ensure it’s ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your Cherimoya tree is in spring or early summer after the last chance of frost has passed, allowing it ample time to establish before cooler weather.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: Cherimoya trees are sensitive to frost. They can tolerate brief dips to around 25-28°F (-4 to -2°C) once established, but prolonged freezing temperatures can cause damage or death.
• Q: Can I use this fruit in cooking? A: Absolutely! The delicious fruit from your Annona cherimola is wonderful eaten fresh, chilled, or used in smoothies, desserts, ice creams, and various culinary preparations.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: As a grafted tree, this Cherimoya El Bumpo plant typically begins to flower and produce fruit within 2-4 years after planting, given optimal growing conditions.