This Gardener’s Holy Grail: Mangosteen
Published by Hanna | Filed Under: My Container Garden
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I found my Holy Grail. The rare and elusive Mangosteen tree. And like the original Holy Grail, it is destined to bring me heartache, disappointment and cost alot of money in my quest to obtain and keep it. *sigh* Why do I do this to myself? Obsession, that’s why.
For those of you who are not familiar with Mangosteen, it is a native of Asia. The fruit is round, smaller than a baseball but bigger than a golf ball. It has a brown outer skin that is peeled away to reveal a snow white center that is sectioned like an orange. Its taste is a creamy rasberryish-strawberryish-peachy heavenly delight. It is call the Queen of Fruit for a very good reason. I would venture to say the taste is better than good sex (but just below great sex).
I first tasted the ambrosia called mangosteen in Thailand about 7 years ago. I was in love from the first moment the white flesh touched my lips. But mangosteen is a fickle fruit and I had my heart crushed when I returned to the US only to find out that fresh mangosteen is simply not available here.
The mangosteen fruit doesn’t ship well and even if it did, it cannot be imported because foreign grown fruit can endanger US food crops. To top it off, mangosteen fields in Hawaii, California and Florida have just not developed as well as hoped so it is not even like I could sacrifice my kid’s college education to have one of the fresh fruit shipped from within the US. I have tried the canned version but the difference in taste is like that between a store bought and homegrown tomato.
I made it my personal mission to buy a tree. For 7 long years I have scoured the internet looking for someone who sells and ships them. Did I mention that the seedlings do not ship well, either? So far I had only found a place in Hawaii but it would cost me $120 for the seedling. I wasn’t that desperate.. yet. The link is in my Favorites list for when I finally did go right over the edge.
I also had a standing email alert at eBay for the word “mangosteen”. Because eventually everything is for sale on eBay, if you are patient enough. Three days ago, I got The Email and I placed my bid and waited anxiously for the end of the auction. I nearly cried when the auction ended and I had won.
This is what obsession does to a person. This is why they have support groups for people like me. Because I don’t think we are quite right in the head.
Professional growers can’t grow these trees in climates similar to their native homeland and I, a mere hobbyist, spends $40 to have a seedling shipped to me. I think I have about a 1 in 100 chance of actually getting this little baby to survive.
Still, I am delighted. My very own mangosteen tree. Let’s say I beat the odds. Let’s say it grows to make fruit. It could happen… of course it takes them 12 years to bear fruit and I may have grandchildren before I have mangosteen fruit, but it could happen.
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Hanna
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May 30th, 2006
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December 6th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Yes I understand the obsession – I had my first mangosteen in Singapore and have been searching for them ever since…. I am wondering if the tree survived? I did find a place in Puerto Rico that ships tropical Fruit trees – Have not tried it yet though. http://www.montosogardens.com/tropical_fruit_trees.htm
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December 10th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
I am greatly saddened to say that mine did not survive the winter. It did fine during the summer, but did not like the cool temps in my plant dugeon at all. I think this is just more reason for me to get a greenhouse.
Good luck with yours! I envy you if you get ripe fruit from it.
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February 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I have one suggestion for people who want to expand their growing experience to include tropical plants. Instead of trying to grow tropicals in your cold zone, use the money to buy property in the tropics and grow your tropicals there. By the time you are mature or ready to retire or solvent enough to take long vacations away from snow and cold temperatures, you will have a garden of tropical flora that you can enjoy instead of the memories of tropical plants that have died along the way. I wish I had done that. Visit Fairchild Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida and feast your eyes on what can be grown in the tropics.
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March 24th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I have two seedlings that I have had for the past four months. Both are doing well and thriving. I was looking for a mangosteen club when I came across your article. Was wondering how your is growing and hwat you are doing to keep them alive.
I am growing mine in doors and they get 50-60% light and I water them four cups of water a week. They are planted in one gallong pots with orgainc soil. I have changed the soil on one plant and it still lives. The problem I have though is I live in Phoenix, Az. where the temps during summer and winter WILL kill them.
Was wondering if there is a grow club for mangosteen or am I on my own? So far they are doing great. just hope they live through summer tehy made it through winter and the temps got below freezing for a few weeks. But like I said I keep them in doors and they get filtered light.
If you can guide me in the right direction that would be great.
Also was that your posting that yours died? If so how long after you recieved them did they die?
Thank you and good look with yours.
Daniel Clark
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April 27th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I think Daniel Clark has the right idea, lets start a Mangosteen Club, for those of us trying to grow this delicate Tree. I live in Las Vegas, and about to order Seedlings soon. I hope they will do well, and would love to keep in contact with other Mangosteen Growers. Daniel or anyone else interested can contact me at……….
CAMPandQUAD@yahoo.com
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May 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I’m from India and love mangosteens. Here too, it grows only in southern india and the north east. I have a tree in my garden in Bangalore and its doing rather well. Have you seen a mangosteen flower? Its white, fleshy and about nine inches across.
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May 27th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I too would love to try to grow a mangosteen tree.
I live in Tucson, and it is my understanding that the trees do well in a green house with a misting system. You are kind of giving it the “tropical” treatment.
Are the trees illegal to grow, or is it just illegal to have the fruits?
It seems to me that the tree itself would pose no threat.
(If you can get one to grow that is.)
I would love to hear about how your plants are doing.
I also think there should be a mangosteen growers club.
Thanks for your info, and good luck to you all.
Dawn
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June 10th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
[...] This Gardener?s Holy Grail: Mangosteen [...]
July 10th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
[...] This Gardener?s Holy Grail: Mangosteen [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
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August 30th, 2008 at 2:19 am
i GOT MINE LAST FEBRUARY 2008.iT ALREADY SPROUTED 2 NEW LEAVES.i FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WILL NOT SURVIVE BECAUSE EVERYTIME I REMOVE THE PARTIAL SHADE TABLE,THE LEAVES KINDA LIMP.SO I LEFT IT AT 50 PERCENT SHADE.I PURCHASED THIS PLANT AT A NUSERY IN SAN DIEGO.LETS JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS COMING WINTER WITH JUST A PLASTIC SHEET PROTECTION.i LIVE IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS CLOSE TO THE OCEAN BREEZE IN LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA.I ALSO HAVE CAIMITO,NONI,SANTOL,DUHAT,JACKFRUIT,MACOPA,SINIGUELA OR CIRUELA,LITCHI,CHICO OR SAPODILLA,ATEMOYA,CHERIMOYA,MORINGA OR MALUNGGAY,PERSIMMON,CALAMONDIN,PUMMELO,AND AVOCADO
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September 1st, 2008 at 4:59 am
Hi,
I came across your website while looking to purchase mangosteen..
For those interested in growing this tree, please take a look at
http://www.fruitipedia.com/Mangosteen.htm
Hope it helps.
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September 8th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I just bought one too, I am in zone 10b in Naples Florida, and I just transplanted to an a shaded area near to a grassy drainage area. I think it got too much sun the first day, and it has a little tan/brown haze on one leaf. I hope it survives the winter. I think I will get a second as a backup, in a big pot.
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October 17th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Where to buy this tree?
thanks
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October 17th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I found mine on E-Bay. I got a chocolate plant included in the auction. It was a very good price. There is an active listing for 4 mangosteen plants for under 40 dollars right now. You should buy soon, because they don’t ship well when the cold winter sets in.
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October 17th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I have alredy but he won’t ship to Portugal.
But thanks for the help. If you have any other ideas fill free to say.
Thanks
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February 27th, 2009 at 2:02 am
I just recently discovered the mangosteen while searching for odd tropical fruits on the internet. From all of the comments I was reading through, I decided that I had to try one. I searched for several months trying to find someplace on the internet that could ship the fresh fruit to the U.S. I finally found it. http://www.1-800-organicfruitofthemonthclub.com/mangosteen.html
The organic fruit of the month club will send fresh mangosteen to the United States with no problems. It has already been legally imported from Thailand and is in California. They ship the product just hours after receiving it. It is fairly expensive, but as many of you seem to know, it is worth it. It is not perfect, but it is as close as we can get here.
Hope this helps those who want fresh fruit.
P.S.- If you are planning on planting the seeds, don’t bother. They’ve been irradiated to get rid of any disease, and killed the seed in doing so.
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March 5th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I just want to say that I’m from the Caribbean island Curacao and since I got to know the fruit Mangosteen and also I had the chance to taste it I was also asking and searching on how to get the plant becasue it was very sweet and delicious.But it seemed to be very difficult to get it.
But after looking at this side I saw the address of montoso gardens and guess what I have placed an order yesterday of 3 Mangosteen Tree’s (1 liter growbag) but now I need to wait and see if I’m going to be able to get it finally.
So as soon as I’ve received it I will again put my comments
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April 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
This is just a confirmation that I’ve received my 3 Mangosteen Trees today and I’m very happy and excited, so now I’m just thinking how and where I’m going to plant them.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I live in south Florida and am on my 5th attempt to grow a Mangosteen in a pot. The first was the most sucessful – it was transplanted about 3 times (from 3 gal to a 32 gal plastic heavy duty trash can !) and grew from 2 ft. high to over 7 feet high !
It grew too big and had to be moved to a friend’s yard where it died within 2 months because of not enough watering. It broke my heart. It never gave me a blossom. Attempts 2-4 all failed. I think the main reason was that I put them in too deep a pot at first : the tap root needs to be within 4-5 inches of the bottom of the pot or lower so that it can always drink from the water table in the pot.
I have read that the soil should always be moist but don’t waterlog the roots in standing water or it will kill it as well.
Here are the key issues:
Mangosteen LIKES rich acid soil (with Canadian peat mixed in is good), moisture, warmth, humidity (mist several times a day to keep the leaves moist), and cow manure compost (NEVER give it any pellet fertilizer). Liquid Miracle grow is ok I feel but go easy when young.
Mangosteen HATES direct sunlight (until 6 or 7 feet high – it will burn the young growth), wind, and cold (below 50).
Good luck to all. Has anyone found a reasonable internet source for the fresh fruit now being imported from Thailand ? – Keith in south FLorida
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