| Sugar Apple | |
| Annona squamosa |
A small (2-4"), knobby fruit with soft, creamy white flesh often having a minty or custardy flavor. The sugar apple is extremely popular throughout the tropics, especially in climates where the cherimoya can not be grown.
Description: Small, deciduous tree to 15-25ft, spreading to the same size. Trees loose leaves in the winter for about 4-6 weeks. Leaves are 6-8" long. Flowers appear with new leaf growth in early spring. Fruits ripen 3-4 months later throughout summer and fall. The common sugar apple has a green skin but dark red varieties are becoming more commonplace.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 27F.
Growing Environment: Grow in full sun. The plant generally adapts well to a variety of soil types. Sugar apples make excellent container specimens.
Propagation: Often by seed which will come to bearing age in just 2-3 years. Supierior varieties are propagated via budding and grafting to sugar apple or other Annona rootstock.
Uses: Usually eaten fresh or used to make beverages and shakes.
Native Range: Unknown, but believed to be native to Central America or the West Indies.