Sugar Apple brings a true tropical vibe to small yards and warm patios, delivering bumpy green fruits with creamy, custard-like flesh. This compact fruit tree stays manageable, bears young, and rewards you with a dessert-sweet harvest that tastes like vanilla with a hint of pineapple.
Its open, spreading form and lush leaves look beautiful in-season, then it rests briefly in cooler months. Plant it as a focal point, pair two for heavier crops, or grow it in a large container you can roll into protection when nights turn chilly.
Sugar Apple Care
Give Sugar Apple full sun, 6–8+ hours daily. Plant in well-drained sandy or loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (about 6.0–7.5); raised beds help where drainage is marginal. Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry; keep evenly moist during flowering and fruit set, then reduce in winter dormancy.
Apply 2–3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. Feed from spring through early fall with a balanced citrus/fruit-tree fertilizer (for example 6-6-6 or 8-3-9 with micronutrients) every 6–8 weeks; stop feeding 6–8 weeks before your first frost date.
Prune lightly in late winter or very early spring to remove crossing wood and to maintain an open canopy; tip-prune after harvest to encourage branching. Best in zones 9b–11; protect below 40°F (4°C) and avoid frost. In containers, use a high-drainage mix, a pot with multiple drain holes, and move under cover when nights dip below 45°F (7°C).
Sugar Apple Spacing
For a specimen, allow 12–18 feet of spacing from other trees. For a loose orchard row or screen, plant 12–15 feet on center. Keep at least 8 feet from walls or hardscapes and 15 feet from septic or drain lines. In containers, start with a 18–24 inch wide pot (15–25 gallons) at 16–18 inches deep; upsize as roots fill. Stake young trees the first season in windy sites and train to an open-center or modified central leader for light penetration. Hand pollination in the evening can improve yields where natural beetle pollination is low.
Why Grow Sugar Apple?
- Delicious, homegrown fruit with a creamy, custard-like texture and tropical sweetness
- Compact, manageable tree that fits small yards and large containers
- Early to bear with heavier crops when hand-pollinated or planted in pairs
- Lush, tropical look that adds instant vacation vibes to patios and garden beds
Seeds are not edible; avoid chewing or crushing them. If your tree is grafted, keep the graft union above the soil line and remove any shoots that sprout from below it.
Bring a taste of the tropics home with Sugar Apple and enjoy dessert right from the tree. Plant one today and savor sweet harvests for seasons to come.
- SKU:
- EDB-TRO-SUG-LGL
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations