Gefner Atemoya Tree – Creamy Tropical Fruit for Your Garden
Bring the pleasure of fresh tropical fruit to your backyard with the Gefner Atemoya Tree, also spelled Gefner. Its sweet, creamy flesh makes a wonderful dessert straight from the garden—simply allow the fruit to soften, cut it open and enjoy it by the spoonful.
Geffner is a rewarding selection for a warm-climate backyard orchard, edible landscape or food forest. It is particularly valued in Florida for its ability to produce good-quality fruit without routine hand pollination.
Fruit Flavor & Appearance
Geffner produces green, textured fruit with creamy white flesh surrounding dark seeds. Ripe atemoya has a sweet, aromatic flavor and a custard-like texture.
Enjoy the deseeded flesh:
Remove the seeds and rind before eating or blending.
Tree Size & Growth
Botanical name: Annona squamosa × Annona cherimola
Cultivar: Gefner, commonly sold as Geffner
Plant family: Annonaceae
Plant type: Tropical/subtropical fruit tree
Atemoya is a hybrid of sugar apple and cherimoya. Unpruned trees can reach approximately 20–30 feet, so provide adequate growing space. Pruning helps maintain an accessible canopy.
Trees may shed leaves during cooler weather or seasonal dormancy.
Pollination & Fruit Production
Geffner can produce fruit without routine hand pollination under Florida conditions. A second tree is not normally required.
Hand pollination can still improve fruit set and shape, particularly when natural pollination is limited. Weather, tree condition and pollinator activity affect production.
Florida Harvest Season
General planning season: Late summer through fall.
Florida atemoya references describe harvests during August–October, with some later crops extending into winter. These are general atemoya windows, not guaranteed Geffner harvest dates.
Use your local flowering and harvest observations to refine the season. Cold weather, pruning and tree maturity can change crop timing.
Geffner Atemoya Tree Care
Sunlight: Choose full sun.
Soil & Drainage: Plant in well-drained soil and avoid areas that remain saturated after rain.
Planting: Keep the top of the root ball level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
Watering: Water consistently during establishment and dry periods, especially during flowering and fruit development.
Mulching: Apply organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Fertilizing: Follow fruit-tree fertilizer label directions, adjusting feeding to tree size and soil conditions.
Pruning: Remove damaged or crossing branches and maintain a manageable canopy.
Cold Protection: Protect young trees during freezing weather. Choose a warm, sheltered site in Central Florida.
Container Growing: Possible in a large container, but long-term success requires adequate root space, regular care and canopy management.
Pest Monitoring: Inspect developing fruit regularly and remove damaged or mummified fruit.
Harvesting & Enjoying Your Fruit
Pick mature atemoya before it becomes completely soft on the tree. Allow it to finish softening at room temperature.
Maturing fruit may lighten toward yellow-green, with widening spaces between surface bumps. Avoid picking immature fruit.
Once soft, scoop out the flesh and remove the seeds. Enjoy promptly.
Plan Your Harvest Before You Plant.™
Compare Geffner’s harvest season with other Annona varieties and fruit trees. Use The Island Gardeners Harvest Planner to help spread your backyard harvest across the seasons.
Harvest timing is a guide, not a guarantee.
Grow what you eat. Eat what you grow.™
