Cold hardy mangosteen

[Peter]

Last year there was a thread which I can't find now, about a cold hardy mangosteen(possibley South American origin) that some people were growing in Florida, and also in California. Can't remember the name of it now-little help please? And I'd love to get one if anyone has a source-thanks!

[Trava]

Do you mean on Zappi-Garcinia gardneriana or Charichuela-Rheedia longifolia,I am looking for some seeds too.

Edited April 14, 2012 by Trava

[rprimbs]

I have found "Brazilian Mangosteen" (Garcinia species achachairu) or "bakupari", "pacura", "guapomo", or Garcinia brasiliensis to be hardy in California. But I'm a little confused about the name. I'm growing them outside in the ground in Escondido California.

Here's the description from Montosogardens.com :

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.

Montoso Gardens sells the trees. They're quite reasonably priced. They have two different sizes in 1 liter grow bags. The smaller is $15.99, and the larger size is $19.99.

You could try contacting them. I suspect that they would sell you seeds.

[Peter]

Thanks-I was able to order one from Montoso. How much sun are you growing them in Escondido? And how do they look after winter?

[gilles06]

how hardy is it?

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks-I was able to order one from Montoso. How much sun are you growing them in Escondido? And how do they look after winter?

I can say that they are extremely delicious! Enjoy your tree. I have no idea how much cold they take as my trees are in Puerto Rico. The Brunners at Montoso Gardens are really nice folks and their gardens are fantastic too!

[rprimbs]

Thanks-I was able to order one from Montoso. How much sun are you growing them in Escondido? And how do they look after winter?

I had mine out in full morning sun but now I've got them planted in the shade. I've heard that they will also fruit in the shade. But I suspect that you'd get more fruit in the sun.

A couple of years ago I got one that I was neglecting and not watering and it lost all of it's leaves and looked like it was dead. In the spring I went to throw it away -- and new leaves were growing! That's when I realized how tough they are. They took down to freezing (30F) a couple of times here. This year I watered all winter and they didn't lose any leaves.

Edited April 17, 2012 by rprimbs

[rozpalm]

I have a Garcinia livingstonei that's been in the ground since 2009. It seems the cold winters cause it to cut back on fruit but that seems to be about it. The fruit is incredible tasting! This year its loaded with fruit. I also have Garcinia aristata (nasty sharp leaves), but all its ever done is flower. Its also been in the ground since 2009 and never has shown any damage from the cold.

[rprimbs]

I have a Garcinia livingstonei that's been in the ground since 2009. It seems the cold winters cause it to cut back on fruit but that seems to be about it. The fruit is incredible tasting! This year its loaded with fruit. I also have Garcinia aristata (nasty sharp leaves), but all its ever done is flower. Its also been in the ground since 2009 and never has shown any damage from the cold.

Do you know where I can buy Garcinia livingstonei trees or seed?

[rozpalm]

I have a Garcinia livingstonei that's been in the ground since 2009. It seems the cold winters cause it to cut back on fruit but that seems to be about it. The fruit is incredible tasting! This year its loaded with fruit. I also have Garcinia aristata (nasty sharp leaves), but all its ever done is flower. Its also been in the ground since 2009 and never has shown any damage from the cold.

Do you know where I can buy Garcinia livingstonei trees or seed?

I'll send you a PM.

[Manolitus]

I have a Garcinia livingstonei that's been in the ground since 2009. It seems the cold winters cause it to cut back on fruit but that seems to be about it. The fruit is incredible tasting! This year its loaded with fruit. I also have Garcinia aristata (nasty sharp leaves), but all its ever done is flower. Its also been in the ground since 2009 and never has shown any damage from the cold.

Any pictures of the fruit ? Do they taste like a Mangosteen ?? I knew that there were more cold hardy varieties, but I did not know that they produced fruit like a tropical Mangosteen.

Manny

[Alan_Tampa]

I think you mean garcinia xanthochymus. Gamboge, or himalayn mangosteen. I have several in the ground in Tampa, have taken winters well, been almost ten years since I planted them.

I have had luck with garcinia dulcis and livingstona.

None of these taste anything like a 'real' mangosteen, but a good grow anyways.

Alan

[Alan_Tampa]

I have had luck with whatever bakupari really is, but no fruit.

Alan

[rozpalm]

I have a Garcinia livingstonei that's been in the ground since 2009. It seems the cold winters cause it to cut back on fruit but that seems to be about it. The fruit is incredible tasting! This year its loaded with fruit. I also have Garcinia aristata (nasty sharp leaves), but all its ever done is flower. Its also been in the ground since 2009 and never has shown any damage from the cold.

Any pictures of the fruit ? Do they taste like a Mangosteen ?? I knew that there were more cold hardy varieties, but I did not know that they produced fruit like a tropical Mangosteen.

Manny

Here is a picture of the fruit. The fruit is about the size of a Wodyetia bifurcata seed.

[Alan_Tampa]

Imbe are pretty good. Tolerant of most winters here in tampa. 2010 was not kind, but made good recovery. Imbe can be male or female but some set fruit without a partner, mine does.

Alan

[edbrown_III]

Alan,

Anyone grow it further north than 10A perhaps 9B? should would be nice to grow one fi I could.

Best regards

Ed

[Eric in Orlando]

Garcinia benthamii and G. xanthochymus have both grown well here and tolerated 28-29F with no damage. No flowering or fruit yet.

Also, Artocarpus hypargyraeus has grown well here too and seems reasonably cold hardy.

[Moose]

I have a Garcinia livingstonei that's been in the ground since 2009. It seems the cold winters cause it to cut back on fruit but that seems to be about it. The fruit is incredible tasting! This year its loaded with fruit. I also have Garcinia aristata (nasty sharp leaves), but all its ever done is flower. Its also been in the ground since 2009 and never has shown any damage from the cold.

Any pictures of the fruit ? Do they taste like a Mangosteen ?? I knew that there were more cold hardy varieties, but I did not know that they produced fruit like a tropical Mangosteen.

Manny

Here is a picture of the fruit. The fruit is about the size of a Wodyetia bifurcata seed.

Thanks for the photo Ron. I have the same question as Manny - does it have a flavor like Mangosteen? I gotta get one for my wife if it does.

Mangosteen is super high in anti-oxidants. Probably one of the heathiest fruits you can eat. Does Garcinia livingstoei fruit have simular properties?

[aussiearoids]

All of the cold hardy Mangis I have tasted are very tart

[Alan_Tampa]

I had one garcinia xanthochymus that was sweet and huge. I have offspring from that plant.

Ed, Imbe can take 9b okay with some canopy, I also was able to fruit it as a potted specimen, it did not like 25f however but made good recovery. I have not had fruit since 2010. My g dulcis, in a pot but escaped from said pot in the corner of my tortoise pen, with low light and zero care, fruits every year, always looks sparse bit keeps on keeping on.

The himalayan mangosteens (xanthochymus) take the cold better than all others for me so far. I only.have one which has fruited, and.not.for a few years.

I think a.good spot is key in climates which may be somewhat questionable, and good care when small. Some of the garcinia and rheedia are surprisingly tough.

A note on taste, I agree with aussiearoids, most are tart.

But not.resinous like eugenia sps.

Alan