Sugar Apple 'Thai Lessard' (Annona squamosa L)
Ultra-Sweet, Tropical Dessert Fruit with Soft, Creamy Segments
Sugar Apple 'Thai Lessard' (Annona squamosa L.) is a high-yielding, ultra-sweet tropical fruit tree prized for its bumpy green fruit filled with custard-like, vanilla-flavored pulp. Native to the Americas and widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, the Thai Lessard variety is known for its exceptional sweetness, uniform fruit shape, and soft, juicy texture that makes it one of the best sugar apples for eating fresh or blending into smoothies and desserts.
The fruit has a distinct segmented exterior that easily separates by hand when ripe. Each segment reveals silky white flesh with a taste often compared to banana cream pie with hints of pineapple and mango. Trees begin fruiting quickly in warm climates, typically within 2–3 years, and can be maintained at a manageable size with pruning.
Sugar Apple trees love full sun, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil, making them perfect for subtropical to tropical growers. The Thai Lessard variety is especially suited for container growing, food forests, or small edible orchards, offering tropical flair and irresistible fruit in a compact package.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Annona spp. (various species including A. squamosa, A. reticulata, A. muricata, A. glabra, A. cherimola) |
| Common Names | Sugar Apple, Red Custard Apple, Soursop, Pond Apple, Cherimoya, Annona |
| Family | Annonaceae |
| Origin | Tropical Americas (Caribbean, Central & South America) |
| Plant Type | Tropical/Subtropical Evergreen or Semi-Deciduous Fruit Tree/Shrub |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Mature Size | Up to 35 ft. |
| Light | Full Sun, Part Shade (best fruit production with more sun) |
| Water Needs | Moderate to High (regular moisture; avoid waterlogging; deep watering during growing/fruiting seasons; reduced watering in winter dormancy) |
| Soil | Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil |
| Bloom Time | Spring to Summer |
| Flower Color | Greenish-Yellow to Pale Green |
| USDA Zones | Outdoors 9–11 (with frost protection until established); Patio/Greenhouse 4+ |
| Florida Native | No |
| Propagation | Seed, Air-layering (our Annonas are grown from seed and air-layering and can fruit in 2–5 years) |
| Seasonal Traits | Semi-Deciduous in cooler temps; may defoliate below ~40°F; evergreen in deep tropics |
| Growth Rate | Fast to Medium |
| Self-Fertile | Yes |
| Harvest Season | Late Summer – Fall |
| Time to Harvest | 2–5 Years (varies by species and growing conditions) |
| Notes | Annona (from Taíno annon) is a genus in the pawpaw/sugar apple family, Annonaceae. The name derives from anón, a Hispaniolan Taíno word for the fruit. Includes Sugar Apple, Red Custard Apple, Soursop, Cherimoya, and Pond Apple varieties. |
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