★★★★★ Rated 4.8 out of 5 Stars

1 Year Warranty on All Plants

Get 10% Off with code FALL10

Sugar Apple Tree

$19995 $25995
Choose Size at Delivery

Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Sugar Apple Tree

How to Grow and Care for Your Sugar Apple Tree

Sunlight: Full sun (at least 6-8 hours per day)

Soil: Well-draining, sandy, or loamy soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5

Watering: Regular during the growing season, but avoid overwatering

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) every few months

Pruning: Trim lightly after fruiting season to maintain shape and remove dead or crowded branches

Pollination: If you have limited natural pollinators, hand-pollination can increase fruit set

What Customers say about the Sugar Apple Tree:

The Sugar Apple Tree thrives in Zones 9-11

Growing Zones for the Sugar Apple Tree

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Sugar Apple Tree.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 9-11
Mature Height 10-20 ft (planted) 6-8 ft (container)
Mature Width 10-20 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight Full Sun
Botanical Name Annona squamosa

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Beware- not all Sugar Apple Trees are the same.

Beware- not all Sugar Apple Trees are the same.

Be sure to get superior fruit trees, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" fruit trees to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Sugar Apple Trees in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that is ready to grow and produce!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall fruit trees in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

Sugar Apple Tree

The Sugar Apple brings true tropical dessert fruit to your own yard- creamy, sweet pulp with a rich, custard-like flavor.

  • Custard-like flavor often compared to a blend of banana, pineapple and vanilla
  • Fast to fruit: a mature 3-gallon plant can fruit in just 1-2 years
  • Sets fruit on its own- hand-pollinating with a small brush can increase your harvest
  • Grow it in the ground or a pot: outdoors in zones 9-11, or 6-8 ft. tall in a container

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants compared with Other Nurseries
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Nationwide Plants: Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Other Nurseries: Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Nationwide Plants: Arrives in its pot with soil intact Other Nurseries: Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Nationwide Plants: Growing naturally until it ships Other Nurseries: Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Nationwide Plants: Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Other Nurseries: Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Nationwide Plants: Measured from the top of the soil Other Nurseries: Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Nationwide Plants: Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Other Nurseries: Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Close-up of two Sugar Apples hanging from a branch, surrounded by green leaves.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure trees including the pot and roots, so their "6-7 ft." tree may only be about half that size when planted. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Step 1: Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. Step 2: A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Step 3: Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Step 4: Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Step 5: Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!
You Want Sugar Apple Trees Grown by Experts

You Want Sugar Apple Trees Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, underdeveloped fruit trees grown in tiny pots to save money. These weak, "root bound" trees can take years to recover before they give you a real harvest.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Sugar Apple Trees, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. A strong start helps your tree settle in quickly and begin bearing sweet fruit, often around 1-2 years after planting.

Read more about the Sugar Apple Tree

Sugar Apple Tree (Annona squamosa) - Enjoy Sweet, Tropical Fruit in Your Own Backyard

The Sugar Apple Tree (Annona squamosa), also known as sweetsop or custard apple, produces one of the most delicious tropical fruits you can grow at home. With its lumpy, green skin and creamy, sweet pulp, this fruit tree is perfect for anyone who loves exotic, homegrown fruit. The Sugar Apple has a rich, custard-like flavor, often compared to a blend of banana, pineapple, and vanilla.

Health Benefits of Sugar Apple Fruit

Not only is Sugar Apple delicious, but it is also packed with nutrients, including:

  • Vitamin C: Boosts immune function and supports skin health
  • Vitamin B6: Helps with brain function and reduces stress
  • Dietary Fiber: Aids digestion and promotes gut health
  • Antioxidants: Protect against cell damage and aging

Interesting Facts About the Sugar Apple Tree

  • Sugar Apple is native to the tropical Americas and the Caribbean, but it is now grown in many warm regions worldwide.
  • Despite its name, Sugar Apple is not directly related to apples but belongs to the Annona genus, which includes cherimoya, atemoya, and soursop.
  • The tree’s fruit is often enjoyed fresh but can also be used in smoothies, ice creams, milkshakes, and even baked goods.
  • In traditional medicine, parts of the Sugar Apple tree have been used to support digestive health, wound healing, and blood sugar regulation.

Dessert That Grows in Your Own Yard

Imagine reaching up, picking a fruit, and tasting warm custard flavored with banana, pineapple, and vanilla. The Sugar Apple Tree (Annona squamosa) gives you that treat fresh from your backyard. No store sells it this sweet, because it's too soft to ship far. Grow your own, and you taste something most people never will. Walk away, and you miss a flavor money can barely buy.

Sweet Fruit Sooner Than You Think

Most fruit trees make you wait many years. This one doesn't. Our trees ship mature from a 3-gallon pot, so they can fruit in just 1 to 2 years. That means dessert from your own tree while your neighbor's seedling is still a stick. You get the reward fast, and you get it for years to come.

A Harvest You Can Actually Reach

This tree stays small and low. It grows just 10 to 20 feet in the ground, with wide, low branches. So you pick your fruit standing on the grass, not teetering on a ladder. Harvest becomes safe, easy, and fun for the whole family. One tree feeds you fresh fruit, smoothies, and desserts all season.

Fresh Fruit That's Good for You

Every creamy bite does more than taste great. Sugar apples are full of vitamin C to support your immune system, fiber to help digestion, and antioxidants that protect your body's cells. They're also low in calories. So you snack on something sweet and still feel good about it. A treat and a health boost in the same fruit.

Beauty and Buzz for Your Garden

This is more than a fruit tree. Its deep-green leaves and sweet-smelling flowers bring bees and butterflies to your yard. That means a livelier garden and better pollination for everything you grow. You get shade, scent, and life, all from one easy tree.

Easy to Grow, Easy to Love

Gardening should feel like a joy, not a chore. Once settled in, this tree handles dry spells and needs only light pruning. Give it full sun and a little water, and it rewards you season after season. It's the perfect choice whether you're a pro or planting your very first tree.

Live Where It Snows? Grow It in a Pot

You don't need a tropical yard to enjoy this fruit. The Sugar Apple grows beautifully in a container, and here's why that's a gift. In a pot it stays a tidy 6 to 8 feet, so it fits patios, decks, and balconies. When cold weather comes, you simply roll it indoors near a sunny window and keep it safe from frost. Come spring, it goes back outside to soak up the sun.

A pot puts you in charge. You control the soil, the water, and the warmth, so your tree stays happy no matter what the sky is doing. That means fresh tropical fruit even in a cold climate, something your grocery store can't offer at any price. Why let a little frost stand between you and homegrown custard apples?

Don't Miss Your First Sweet Harvest

Every season you wait is one more season without dessert growing outside your door. Your tree ships fast, arrives healthy, and comes backed by our guarantee. Soon you could be handing friends a fruit they've never even seen. Order your Sugar Apple Tree today, before you wish you had.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Sugar Apple Tree

How big does a Sugar Apple Tree get?

A Sugar Apple Tree grows 10 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide when planted in the ground, with wide, low branches that make picking easy. In a container, it stays a tidy 6 to 8 feet tall, which suits patios, decks, and balconies.

How long does it take a Sugar Apple Tree to fruit?

A Sugar Apple Tree grown from a mature 3-gallon plant can fruit in just 1 to 2 years. That is much faster than many fruit trees. Full sun, regular watering during the growing season, and a balanced fertilizer every few months help it start producing sweet, custard-like fruit sooner.

What does a Sugar Apple taste like?

A Sugar Apple has a rich, sweet, custard-like flavor often compared to a blend of banana, pineapple, and vanilla. Beneath its lumpy green skin is creamy white pulp. Enjoy it fresh with a spoon or use it in smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream, and baked goods.

What zones can you grow a Sugar Apple Tree outdoors?

The Sugar Apple Tree grows outdoors in USDA zones 9 through 11. It is sensitive to frost, so gardeners in colder regions should grow it in a container. Roll the pot indoors near a sunny window when cold weather arrives, then return it outside in spring.

Can you grow a Sugar Apple Tree in a pot?

Yes, the Sugar Apple Tree grows beautifully in a container, where it stays about 6 to 8 feet tall. A pot lets you control soil, water, and warmth, and makes it easy to move the tree indoors for winter. Use a large container with drainage holes and well-draining mix.

Do Sugar Apple Trees need hand pollination?

Sugar Apple Trees can set fruit on their own, but if you have limited natural pollinators, hand-pollination can increase fruit set. Use a small paintbrush to transfer pollen between flowers. This is especially helpful for container trees grown indoors or on screened patios where bees cannot reach the blooms.

What soil does a Sugar Apple Tree need?

A Sugar Apple Tree grows best in well-draining sandy or loamy soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Avoid heavy soil that stays wet. Water regularly during the growing season without overwatering, and apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer every few months to support healthy growth and fruiting.

How much sun does a Sugar Apple Tree need?

A Sugar Apple Tree needs full sun, with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light per day. Plenty of sunshine produces more flowers and sweeter fruit. When overwintering a container tree indoors, place it by the brightest window you have to keep it healthy until spring.

How do you prune a Sugar Apple Tree?

Trim a Sugar Apple Tree lightly after the fruiting season. Remove dead or crowded branches and shape the canopy to keep it open and manageable. Only light pruning is needed, and once established the tree also handles dry spells well, making it a low-maintenance fruit tree for beginners.

How do you know when a Sugar Apple is ripe?

A Sugar Apple is ripe when its knobby segments start to separate slightly, the skin lightens to a yellowish-green, and the fruit feels soft to gentle pressure. Ripe fruit is very soft and does not ship well, which is one reason homegrown Sugar Apples taste so much better than store options.