Annona salzmannii

Annona salzmannii is an evergreen tree in the Annonaceae family. Its common name is beach sugar apple. Its native range spans northeastern Peru and northern and eastern Brazil. It grows in tropical regions with a dry season. Habitats include dry coastal woods and wooded sand dunes. Useful Tropical Plants reports its 2021 IUCN status as Least Concern. That assessment reflects its broad range and many known locations.

Garden references give a height near 39 feet [12 metres]. One summary gives 49 feet [15 metres] as an upper height. Broader accounts report trees reaching 66 feet [20 metres]. The listed spread is about 33 feet [10 metres]. Its crown is long and open, with many branches. The trunk often divides close to the ground. It can reach about 1–1.3 feet [0.3–0.4 metres] across. Thick, leathery leaves stay on the tree year-round. PFAF describes its growth as slow.

Flowers grow near the leaf axils, singly or in pairs. Beetles and other insects pollinate them. PFAF also lists the tree as self-fertile. The fruit is heart-shaped, with sweet, juicy flesh and no fibres. Accounts differ on skin colour, describing green or orange fruit. Fruit can reach about 0.33 feet [0.10 metres] long. Its width can reach about 0.30 feet [0.09 metres]. Each fruit may weigh up to 450 grams. People eat the flesh raw. The fruit is valued within the tree’s native range.

This lowland tropical tree prefers full sun but accepts light shade. It favours sandy soil that drains well. Loam and soils with few nutrients can also suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. It can grow in saline soil. Moist soil suits it, though it can withstand drought. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12. It reports tolerance of strong winds, but not direct coastal exposure. Salt in the soil and sea exposure are distinct growing conditions.

The edible crop gives this tree value in tropical food gardens. Its wood serves as firewood and as material for charcoal. The supplied accounts name no specific pests or diseases. They report no known hazards, but do not establish safety for pets. They also record no medicinal use. Seeds have a hard coat that can delay sprouting. Scarifying that coat helps them take up water and germinate. PFAF reports sprouting within 40–50 days after treatment.