Sugar apple
Annona squamosa
Custard-sweet segments; bears young.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 15 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: August to October
From: Tropical America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean, Tropical South America. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
Sugar apple, or sweetsop, is native to the tropical Americas and was carried by the Spanish to the Philippines and by the Portuguese to India, where it became the sitaphal of autumn markets. The segmented fruit pulls apart into custard.
Planting
Full sun, drained soil, heat, and no frost; it does well in dry tropics and large pots. Plant a seedling or grafted tree.
Growing
Water during flowering and fruiting, let it dry and rest in winter. Hand-pollinate like cherimoya for a heavier set. Prune to keep it bushy.
Harvest and use
Pick in late summer when the segments separate slightly and the fruit gives to pressure; ripen a day or two indoors.
What to watch for
Mealybugs, fruit borers, and any frost.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home