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Annona squamosa (Sugar apple)
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2 hours care
per year
per year
6m
Max height
Max height
6m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Annona squamosa
Other names
Sugar apple, Scaly custard apple, Sweetsop, Buannona, Custard apple, Anon, Sugar pineapple
Genus
Annona Annona
Species
A. squamosa - A. squamosa is a tender, open, irregularly branching, semi-evergreen shrub or small tree with oblong to lanceolate, blunt-tipped, aromatic, dull green leaves, paler beneath. Single or clustered, yellow-green flowers with purple-spotted bases in spring are followed by rounded to conical, segmented, pale to grey-green fruit with juicy, edible, creamy-white flesh.
Annona squamosa is: Semi evergreen
Habit
Branching, Open branches
Toxicity
Seeds, bark, and leaves are toxic.
Flower
Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Caterpillars , Fruit tree red spider mite , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs , Scale insects Caterpillars , Fruit tree red spider mite , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs , Scale insects
Diseases
Susceptible to leaf blight and a fungus.
General care
Pruning
Thin fruit as required. Pruning group 1. Harvest fruit when a white, yellow, or red tint appears between the rind segments. If picked too soon, fruit will shrivel and turn black; too late and the fruit will fall apart.
Propagation
Seeds store well.
Propagation methods
Budding, Grafting, Seed
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Where to grow
Annona squamosa (Sugar apple) will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 6m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, City, Conservatory, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Indoor, Specimen tree, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water regularly; sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Partial shade is tolerated. Drought tolerant once established.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Annona squamosa
Other names
Sugar apple, Scaly custard apple, Sweetsop, Buannona, Custard apple, Anon, Sugar pineapple
Genus
Annona Annona
Species
A. squamosa - A. squamosa is a tender, open, irregularly branching, semi-evergreen shrub or small tree with oblong to lanceolate, blunt-tipped, aromatic, dull green leaves, paler beneath. Single or clustered, yellow-green flowers with purple-spotted bases in spring are followed by rounded to conical, segmented, pale to grey-green fruit with juicy, edible, creamy-white flesh.
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Branching, Open branches
Toxicity
Seeds, bark, and leaves are toxic.
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Colour
Flower
Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Caterpillars , Fruit tree red spider mite , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs , Scale insects
Diseases
Susceptible to leaf blight and a fungus.
General care
Pruning
Thin fruit as required. Pruning group 1. Harvest fruit when a white, yellow, or red tint appears between the rind segments. If picked too soon, fruit will shrivel and turn black; too late and the fruit will fall apart.
Propagation
Seeds store well.
Propagation methods
Budding, Grafting, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Annona squamosa (Sugar apple) will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 6m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, City, Conservatory, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Indoor, Specimen tree, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water regularly; sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Partial shade is tolerated. Drought tolerant once established.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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