IFAS Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service
The Sugar Apple Annona squamosa is a small deciduous tree
that only reaches the height in Florida of about 20 to 25 feet. Native
to Central America this grows best in warm frost-free areas. The leaves
are alternate, 6-8 inches long and thin, and the tree loses those leaves
shortly after Christmas and is bare for about four to six weeks. Flowers
appear with the leaves in the spring and the fruit ripens starting in mid
to late summer through late fall.
Fruits are anywhere from 3 to 5 inches in diameter with a lumpy
green skin and upon maturity the fruit has a bluish or white blush. Some
varieties are developed that have a red blush or red skin which are much
more attractive. At maturity fruits have a custard-like white pulp with
small black seeds and the sweet flesh is eaten fresh or used for milkshakes
and ice creams. During wet summers often maturing fruit tends to split
and this can be prevented by picking the fruits just prior to full maturity
and ripening them off the tree.
Trees are easily started from seed and it takes one to two years
for seedlings to start producing flowers. Many superior varieties are available
and these are sold through nurseries as grafted or budded plants. Trees have
few problems other than cold weather, but the fruit is attacked by annona
seed borer and occasionally caterpillars might chew foliage.
Fruits, once mature, can be cleaned and the pulp frozen for many
months for future use. If close to salt water, protect sugar apples from
direct ocean spray since this may cause burning of the thin leaves. Some
varieties to look for include Island Gem, Lincoln, Cuban, Brazilian and
Purple.
Sugar apples make great container plants, too, so if you don't have
much space try growing these in a 10 or 15 gallon tub, and they will still
reward you with a number of delicious fruit.
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