Rollinia deliciosa is a plant out of the annonaceae family and looks in appearance very much like the better known Annona cherimoya. Experts will know this plant better by it's fruit. This is very noticeable in appearance due to it's colour but also it's shape. The scaled fruit bruises easily and this happens mostly on the ends of the scales. Due to this the plant gets it's remarkable black-yellow colour which makes the fruit very easily recognizable.
The Rollinia originates from South America. The tree grows mostly in tropical areas and is cultivated there for production. The tree can grow fruit after 3/4 years and produces more with every year. The rather unattractive looks combined with it's short shelf life (only a week) make the plant hard for mass production in western countries. This is a shame because the fruit is very tastefull and is also known as: Lemon meringue pie fruit. This gives an idea of the taste of the fruit.
The plant grows quite similar as an Annona and can keep it's leaves in winter. However in dry periods the plant will shed it's leaves and regrow them in spring. Pruning is not recommended. When a plant starts to grow it is best to just let it grow. The leaves tend to tilt downwards a bit. Don't be fooled by this, the plant does not need extra water. This is just the way the plant grows. It even prefers to not be too wet and this could even kill the plant.
The plant can best overwinter in a light place at a temperature somewhere between +8ºC and +18ºC.
Winter hardiness zone 11 (8ºC).