Custard Apple Tree

Custard apple is a fruit that does not look as nice and attractive as a normal apple, from outside. However, the fruit is very sweet and delicious on the inside, and is bound to make your mouth water next time you see it in the market. The custard apple is also known as anon, sugar apple and sweetsop. The custard apple in fact does not even look like an ordinary apple. The custard apple fruit has a scaly appearance and very soft pulp inside it, that holds together many seeds. This tree is found in almost every tropical, sub-tropical and monsoon region across the world.

What are Custard Apples

The fruit and the plant are named as 'custard apple', due to the fact that the internal flesh of the fruit resembles custard. A custard apple can grow to a diameter of about 3 to 6 inches. The fruit has a heart like shape and changes from green to yellow as the fruit starts ripening. The fact that there are too many seeds within the fruit tends to be a very annoying aspect for people who dearly love the fruit. On an average, there are about 50 to 76 seeds in one fruit. The fruit is a very rich source of food nutrition, such as sugar, calcium, carbohydrates and fiber.

Facts About the Custard Apple Tree

As mentioned above, the tree of a custard apple is not a very attractive plant. The tree belongs to the Annonaceae family, which consists of about 2000 other members that are similar to the custard apple. The average height of these trees range from 15 to 35 feet. The trunk of this tree is erect and has a round spreading crown. The trunk of this tree can grow as big as 10 to 14 inches in diameter.

This tree has a very peculiar leaf structure. The leaves emit a pungent smell, which is not very welcoming. The leaves are arranged in an alternating structure and have an oblong, lance like shape and can grow to a size of about 4 to 8 inches. This tree follows a deciduous shedding pattern. The leaves start falling off by the end of August and reappear at the start of spring. The flowers also appear in the spring season, and the ripe fruit can be relished in late spring and early summer. The exact shedding and fruiting patterns differ for almost every region, and the fruit takes about 20 to 25 weeks to ripen.

This tree is found in many regions and nations across the world. This tree prefers the tropical and sub-tropical climates. It is also found in many countries that have a monsoon type of climate. In regions like West Indies and the Indian sub-continent, the medicinal benefits of the custard apple have made it a culturally important plant.

Planters growing custard apples prefer to plant it in low-lying, rich and well draining soil. If you are living in a tropical or sub-tropical region, then you should certainly have this tree in your garden.