Mangosteen
Garcinia mangostana
The queen of fruits; needs constant warmth and humidity.
Hardiness: zones 11 to 12
Light: part shade
Size: about 25 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: June to August
From: Southeast Asia
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 11 to 12.
The story
Mangosteen has been grown in the Malay Peninsula and Sunda Islands for centuries and was called the queen of fruits by colonial writers who could not get it home before it spoiled; Queen Victoria is said to have offered a reward for a fresh one. It is slow, fussy, and worth it.
Planting
Shade when young, deep rich moist soil, heat, and humidity; no frost, no wind, no drought. Plant a seedling in a sheltered spot and expect eight to twelve years.
Growing
Keep evenly moist and mulched; shelter from sun for the first years. Feed lightly and often. Never let it dry out.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens purple about four months after bloom; twist off, break the rind, and eat the white segments. One tree gives hundreds once it starts.
What to watch for
Drought, wind, sun scorch when young, and the long wait.
See if Mangosteen fits your yard
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home