Custard Apple Plant (Sitaphal) - Live Fruit Plant

The Custard Apple Plant (Annona squamosa), commonly known as Sitaphal, Sugar Apple or Sharifa, is a tropical fruiting shrub or small tree from the family Annonaceae. Kew accepts Annona squamosa as the valid species and describes it as a much-branched shrub or small tree reaching approximately 3–6 metres in height.

The plant develops an open canopy of green leaves and small, fragrant greenish-yellow flowers. These flowers later develop into distinctive rounded or heart-shaped fruits with a knobbly, segmented surface.

When ripe, Custard Apple contains soft, creamy-white pulp surrounding several dark seeds. The pulp has a naturally sweet, custard-like flavour and is commonly eaten fresh or used in shakes, desserts and ice cream.

Custard Apple performs best in full sunlight and well-draining soil. Although established trees tolerate periods of drought, fruit set and fruit size may decline when plants experience strong water stress. Regular irrigation from flowering through fruit development helps improve fruit quality.

Pollination can sometimes limit fruit set. Sugar Apple flowers have male and female phases at different times, and UF/IFAS reports that hand pollination can greatly improve both fruit set and fruit shape.

Because this is a generic Sitaphal listing, fruit size, sweetness, seed count and bearing characteristics may vary with cultivar, propagation method and local growing conditions.