Sugar Apple 'Na Dai' (Annona squamosa L)
Common Names: Na Dai Sugar Apple, Seedless Sugar Apple, Seedless Custard Apple
Family: Annonaceae
Origin: Southeast Asia, selectively bred in Thailand
The Na Dai Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa), often called the "Seedless Sugar Apple," is a unique, premium variety of sugar apple that is beloved for its minimal seeds and exceptionally sweet, creamy flesh. Developed through selective breeding, this Thai variety is highly prized in the fruit markets for its easy-to-eat, low-seed fruit. The Na Dai Sugar Apple tree is compact and highly productive, making it a perfect choice for tropical and subtropical gardeners who want an exotic fruit tree that yields delicious fruit in abundance.
Features & Uses
Fruits: The Na Dai Sugar Apple produces medium to large, segmented green fruit that is nearly seedless, making it incredibly easy and enjoyable to eat. The creamy white flesh is sweet and custard-like, with a slightly richer flavor than typical sugar apples.
Foliage: The tree has glossy, green leaves that create a dense, attractive canopy.
Growth Habit: Na Dai is a compact tree, reaching about 10-15 feet in height, perfect for small spaces, container growing, or adding tropical appeal to home gardens.
Nutritional Value: Like other sugar apples, Na Dai is rich in vitamin C, B vitamins, and fiber, promoting immunity, digestive health, and energy.
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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