Red Ilama -grafted tree

[70Malibu]

I found a local seller who has some nice looking grafted  Red Ilama trees. Here's some photos of his add on FB.

I picked one up today, the tree looks very healthy. If anyone in SoCal wants to know where I bought it, send me a message. This person only sells direct, pickup only.

Here's the description by the seller. Does anyone know the variety name of this one shown.

[70Malibu]

I'll post a photo of my tree I got tomorrow.

[70Malibu]

If you have a red Ilama tree that fruits in CA, please provide any info (photos) on the tree growth and how the fruit tastes. I have never tasted this or any other Ilama fruit yet.

[SHV]

That’s a beautiful fruit!  I always had the impression that Ilamas only grow with an ideal microclimate in SoCA. Is that correct?

[ScottR]

Will be interesting to see how that Ilama grows for you Kaz!

[70Malibu]

Yup, the guy had about 8 trees at the size I bought it, on sale now (at least it shows it was marked down). Another friend just went over there and got his tree. The seller also had it in the next size pot which was larger so I might see if any of those had flowers on it. I prefer to see a fruit asap so if I have 2 trees that's fine, someone will buy the smaller one from me later when it has the red fruit.

[70Malibu]

Here's my tree I got.

[70Malibu]

I'll be grafting 2 scions onto my large cherimoya tree so I can accelerate its growth. If it is red flesh, I may share some scions in 2 years. I have the Red Gefner grafted, and it never flowered yet.

[SD Dan]

I've had an ilama grafted to cherimoya for 3+ years and it hasn't done too much. Flowered this year and hand pollinated but no set. It's always suckering from the rootstock.

My seedlings from Raul's seeds are looking more vigorous and healthy. I think grafting onto a mature cherimoya tree is the move to help accelerate things. My ilama don't get going until like June so it makes sense that the cherimoya rootstock gets impatient.

[K-Rimes]

I'll be grafting some of my unknown ilama seedlings (from red fruit seeds) onto a large and vigorous cherimoya this Spring. I'll report back with how it goes. The seedlings I've been growing out were really slow to get going but a few put on some decent size this year. Nothing in comparison to cherimoya though.

[70Malibu]

I just confirmed with the seller that all his Red Ilama is grafted on cherimoya rootstock. The grafts looks to me to be at least 1 year old, maybe 2 yrs from the size of the graft union. This is a Bargin price, if it is the true red flesh ilama.

[FruitFool]

Kaz,

The new leaves aren’t looking reddish in your photo to me.
I doubt it will produce red flesh fruit.

FruitFool

[RevivalR00ts]

Kaz,

The new leaves aren’t looking reddish in your photo to me.
I doubt it will produce red flesh fruit.

FruitFool

I don’t think it works like that exactly

[FruitFool]

At least growables site says the new growth should be red to indicate pink fruit. It also says bark can be scratched and it should be red. I don’t have Ilama tree or personal experience though.

https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/annonadiversifolia.htm#:~:text=Tip:%20Scratch%20the%20bark%20of,they%20are%20sold%20at%20market.

[70Malibu]

I will believe it is the true variety. When I cut off some scions to graft onto my large cherimoya tree, I will check the color of the branch cutting to see what color it shows. I picked this tree specifically to re-graft onto my larger tree since it will grow much faster on it. I did try to checkout all his trees to see if any had flower buds starting but there was none. But I did buy the Trumpo canistel tree and it had a few flower buds already.