Anybody growing "Bolivian mangosteen" (Garcinia sp. achachairu)

[rprimbs]

I got a little Garcinia sp. Achachairu (Also called G. brasiliensis, Rheedia brasiliensis, "bakupari", "pacura", "guapomo") from Montoso Gardens a little over a year ago. They describe it as:

Achachairu is a delicious Bolivian fruit that some people prefer to the purple mangosteen. It has been called G. brasiliensis and G. laterifolia, but the correct species name is still undetermined. Fruits well in deep shade.

I forgot all about the poor little plant and I stopped watering it for a while and it lost all of it's leaves and apparently died. Then this spring -- after the rain -- it started growing new leaves! It's not only hardy, it down right tough!!

I bought a second plant and I'm going to plant both in the ground today. Is anybody else growing it? If some people prefer it to mangosteen then it's got to be pretty darn good!

[siafu]

I got a little Garcinia sp. Achachairu (Also called G. brasiliensis, Rheedia brasiliensis, "bakupari", "pacura", "guapomo") from Montoso Gardens a little over a year ago. They describe it as:

Achachairu is a delicious Bolivian fruit that some people prefer to the purple mangosteen. It has been called G. brasiliensis and G. laterifolia, but the correct species name is still undetermined. Fruits well in deep shade.

I forgot all about the poor little plant and I stopped watering it for a while and it lost all of it's leaves and apparently died. Then this spring -- after the rain -- it started growing new leaves! It's not only hardy, it down right tough!!

I bought a second plant and I'm going to plant both in the ground today. Is anybody else growing it? If some people prefer it to mangosteen then it's got to be pretty darn good!

Indeed, it is quite forgiving. I have one planted outside, at 37º N.

This will be its fourth winter unprotected, except for the carob tree it is growing under.

It has seen near freezing conditions 2 or 3 times without much of a problem.

--Sérgio

Algarve, Portugal

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

We have one in the Deerfield Beach Arboretum. The fruit is quite tasty and many visitors have discovered it (right Bill?). It was irrigated when young but has gotten no irrigation in 4 or 5 years and is growing and fruiting quite well. I have not tried growing it from seed and I think I will try next time I get fruit off of it. I saw a small one in the rare fruit hot house at Fairchild a few years ago, thinking that it surely did not need hot house growing conditions.

[Peter]

Very interesting!

[aussiearoids]

Massive commercial orchards of this sp. being grown not far from me here in North Qld. being marketed as

Achacha . A bit slow growing , but an attractive tree . Very slow to germinate . NOT G. brasiliensis according to an expert on these from local Rare Fruit group I am in .

[Pedro 65]

Richard, I personally prefer this Garcinia over Garcinia Mangostana which many farms in the tropics are planting because of the extremly high price of the fruit. The Garcinia you are mentioning can handle drier cooler conditions and is hardy, wheras Mangostana is far more tropical in its requirments and needy of lots of water. Pete

[Cindy Adair]

We grow this as well in Puerto Rico. It's my husband's favorite fruit and I love it too! My husband keeps "trying" to pick the fruits and bring them back to our kitchen to share, but mostly they disappear (into his mouth of course). I know we ate some in August, but if there are any next week, I'd be glad to bring seeds to Virginia (legal when cleaned and declared) and share them with anyone. Simply delicious!

[Peter]

I'd love some seeds if you can spare any!

[Cindy Adair]

I'd love some seeds if you can spare any!

If not next week, we'll certainly have seeds over the next year. I'll pm you (and anyone else that responds)when I have them. Also www.viveroanones.com often sells fresh seeds of these and many others if you are interested.