Annona squamosa is an evergreen, flowering, spreading small perennial tree with. an open canopy and a zig-zag branching pattern. Grows 5-6m tall with an equal spread. Noted as reaching 8m tall with an equal spread in its native habitat. Medium growth rate. Leaves are dull green, simple, alternate, oblong-lancet are variable in size but are usually about 15cm long by 2-5cm wide. Leathery, smooth, strongly veined with entire margins.

The leaves are fragrant when crushed. Petioles are short. Branches are red when young, becoming brown. Bark becomes grey and slightly fissured with age. Flowers are inconspicuous, fragrant and yellow in colour.