A small, upright tree reaching about 5 m in height which is otherwise known as prickly custard apple. It is drought tolerant and makes a good windbreak or shade tree. It is less frost tolerant than the other species (0°C).
The fruit is the largest of the custard apples and more acid, so is often best stewed with a little sugar. The texture can be somewhat slimy, but the juice is abundant and sweet and makes good drinks.
Nutritional composition of the soursop per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 81.7%, Energy - 65 calories, Carbohydrate - 16.3 g, Fat - 0.3 g, Protein - 1.0 g, Ash - 0.7g, Calcium - 14 mg, Potassium - 265 mg, Sodium - 14 mg, Iron - 0.6 mg, Phosphorous - 27 mg, Vitamin A - 10 I.U., Thiamin - 0.07 mg, Riboflavin - 0.05 mg, Niacin - 0.9 mg, Ascorbic acid - 20 mgs.
Fruiting begins at about 4 years with seedling trees, 3 years with grafted trees. The seeds are said to have insecticidal properties.