Custard Apple
Annona squamosa
Also listed as Annona asiatica, Annona cinerea
Also known as Sugar Apple, Sweetsop
Climate Match for your location
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A small to medium deciduous tree producing heart-shaped, creamy-sweet custard apples with a unique bumpy exterior. The fruit is highly prized in tropical and subtropical regions and is excellent for home gardens and permaculture systems.
Why grow it
Custard apple offers higher yield reliability in subtropical climates compared to most tropical fruit trees, establishing productive crops within 3-4 years. Its deciduous habit suits regions with defined dry seasons, and the fruit's thick skin allows better storage and transport than softer custard relatives like sugar apple. Home growers often prefer it for its lower pest pressure relative to mango or avocado in marginal climates.
Watch out for
Fruit development depends on adequate winter chilling; trees in consistently warm regions may set fewer flowers and irregular crops. Ripe fruits deteriorate quickly after harvest, typically within 2-3 days at room temperature, requiring prompt consumption or refrigeration. Irregular bearing patterns are common without consistent management, and young trees need several seasons before reaching reliable production.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Annonaceae
Native Range
South America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Kampsteeg, Balanoy, and Pink Mammoth are among the most widely cultivated varieties, known for larger fruit size and improved flavor. Thompson and African Pride are also popular in some regions for disease resistance and productivity.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A small to medium deciduous tree producing heart-shaped, creamy-sweet custard apples with a unique bumpy exterior. The fruit is highly prized in tropical and subtropical regions and is excellent for home gardens and permaculture systems.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Custard Apple grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Custard apple offers higher yield reliability in subtropical climates compared to most tropical fruit trees, establishing productive crops within 3-4 years. Its deciduous habit suits regions with defined dry seasons, and the fruit's thick skin allows better storage and transport than softer custard relatives like sugar apple. Home growers often prefer it for its lower pest pressure relative to mango or avocado in marginal climates.
Watch out for
Fruit development depends on adequate winter chilling; trees in consistently warm regions may set fewer flowers and irregular crops. Ripe fruits deteriorate quickly after harvest, typically within 2-3 days at room temperature, requiring prompt consumption or refrigeration. Irregular bearing patterns are common without consistent management, and young trees need several seasons before reaching reliable production.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Annonaceae
Native Range
South America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar sub-canopy trees you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Kampsteeg, Balanoy, and Pink Mammoth are among the most widely cultivated varieties, known for larger fruit size and improved flavor. Thompson and African Pride are also popular in some regions for disease resistance and productivity.