Sugar apple originates from the Caribbean. Fruits of the sugar apple are usually eaten fresh, but can also be used to make wine.
Sugar apple is sometimes confused with custard apple, which is another but closely related fruit.
Names
Scientific
Annona squamosa
English
Custard apple
Sugar apple
Sweetsop
Dutch
Kaneelappel
Suikerappel
Zoetzak
Spanish
Anón
Anona
Riñón
Saramuyo
French
Atte
Attier
Pomme cannelle
Pommier cannelle
German
Rahmapfel
Süßsack
Zimtapfel
Zuckerapfel
Taxonomy
Genus
Annona
Family
Annonaceae
Order
Magnoliales
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Caribbean
Distribution:
Evergreen or deciduous:
Semi-evergreen
Flowers:
Leaves:
Fruits:
The fruits are usually round and slightly pine cone-like, often green, with a diameter of 6 to 10 cm. They have a scaly or lumpy skin, but there is a lot of variation in shape, size and color.
Climate and weather:
Requires a tropical or sub-tropical climate. Below 10°C it will shed leaves. cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. The tree requires sufficient water (rainall over 700mm); during drought it hardly produces fruits.
Pollination:
Height:
Sugar apple is a shrub or small tree that can reach 6 to 8 meters tall.
Spacing
Pollination:
By small insects (bees are not very effective); Hand pollination improves fruit setting
Propagation:
In Philippines the fruits are eaten by fruit bats, which helps spreading the seeds.
Insect pests:
Diseases:
Harvesting:
Ripe fruits are harvested by hand picking.
Uses:
Usually eaten fresh. Can be used to make wine.
Proverbs and Quotes
- Teeth as sugar apple seeds.
(This proverb in Vietnam originates from an old fashion of Vietnamese ladies. In the 19th century and earlier, fashionable ladies used to stain their teeth in black. The white teethed ladies were ordinary and not so fashionable. So, “Teeth as sugarapple seeds” used to praise a pretty woman who had nice teeth.)
Crop categories
Fruits
Food crops
Tropical crops
Pictures
Sugar apple