Mountain Soursop (Seedling) Fruit Plant

Mountain soursop is native to Central America, the Amazon, and islands in the Caribbean. The tree somewhat resembles that of the soursop but has a more spreading crown and very glossy leaves. It is slightly hardier and bears more or less continuously. Mountain soursop trees bear fruit more or less continuously starting two to three years after planting. The fruit is nearly round or broad-ovoid, to 6 in (15 cm) long. Its dark-green skin is studded with numerous short, fleshy “spines”. It becomes very soft and falls when ripe. The pulp is yellow, peculiarly aromatic, sour to subacid and bitter, fibrous, and contains many light-brown, plump seeds. The plant is drought tolerant and will grow well in dry conditions but cannot withstand prolonged water-logging. The plant is tolerant of a wide range of well-drained, fertile soils, but prefers a moist, sandy loam. It is harder than many other tropical fruit trees, capable of tolerating temperatures below freezing for brief periods.

Mountain soursop benefits:

Mountain soursop has several traditional medicinal uses in South American and the Caribbean.

• Fruit, seeds, bark, leaves, and roots are used to treat intestinal parasites, coughs (including asthma and bronchitis), inflammation, diabetes, and hypertension.
• Research on extracts has recognized antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic properties.
• It is also used as an anti-depressant and at least one study has found it effective against multi-drug resistant cancer cells.