Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 11-12. Acceptable growth requires rich soils in hot and humid tropical climates, abundant water (over 150" per year), and air temperatures that do not fall below 40 degrees F. nor rise above 100 degrees F. Propagation is from fresh seed, but it takes 8-12 years before fruit first appears.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Garcinia mangostana, commonly called mangosteen, is an erect, slow-growing, tropical tree with a pyramidal crown that is native to rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia. It produces tangerine-sized fruits called mangosteens which are considered in many circles to be the finest tasting fruits in the world. Unfortunately this tree is very difficult to grow outside of its native habitat because of its specific and uncompromising cultural requirements. At this time, mangosteens are primarily cultivated in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Attempts to grow mangosteens in Florida, California and Hawaii have been largely unsuccessful. In its native habitat, this tree will grow to 80' tall, but in most other tropical locations it typically matures to 40-50' tall. Large, glossy, leathery, elliptic leaves (to 20" long) are evergreen. Trees are dioecious (separate male and female trees), but female flowers will produce seedless fruit without pollinization. Four-petaled female flowers are yellow-red with a cluster of center stamens which produce no pollen. Hermaphroditic flowers are yellow-green with red petal margins. Fruits (to 4" diameter) have thick inedible rinds that mature to reddish purple. Within each rind are 5-8 fleshy, creamy-white, usually one-seeded segments (arils) which are the edible part of the fruit. Fruit is juicy, sweet and mildly tart. Time of fruiting seasons will vary depending upon geographical location and growing conditions.
National fruit of Thailand.
Genus name honors Laurent Garcin (1683-1751), French botanist, who travelled widely in India.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.