Bignay (mao luang) Antidesma bunius
Bignay (mao luang) (Antidesma bunius) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Phyllanthaceae family, native to Tropical Asia from India and southern China to northern Australia. It grows 5–15 m (16–49 ft) tall and 4–8 m (13–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.
Plan Bignay (mao luang) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Bignay (mao luang) at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Phyllanthaceae |
| Mature height | 5–15 m (16–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 6 m (20 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: fruit (sour; jams, juice, wine), young leaves |
| Native to | Tropical Asia from India and southern China to northern Australia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Bignay (mao luang) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Bignay (mao luang)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Bignay (mao luang)
- How far apart should I plant Bignay (mao luang)?
- About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–8 m (13–26 ft).
- Does Bignay (mao luang) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Bignay (mao luang) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Bignay (mao luang)?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Bignay (mao luang) flower?
- From about April for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Bignay (mao luang) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.
- What grows well with Bignay (mao luang)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Bignay (mao luang). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- PROSEA: Plant Resources of South-East Asia, PROSEA Foundation, Bogor
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: needs warm nights all year; in a frosty climate grow it under glass or as a summer container plant.
- Long bunches of small berries ripen unevenly, so each bunch is white, red and black at once. Dioecious: a male tree is needed nearby. The flowers smell unpleasant. Sakon Nakhon in north-east Thailand is known for mao wine.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Amla (Indian gooseberry) Phyllanthus emblica
- Star gooseberry (Otaheite gooseberry, ma-yom) Phyllanthus acidus
- Burmese grape (ma-fai) Baccaurea ramiflora
- Katuk (sweet leaf, phak wan ban) Breynia androgyna
- Masuku (wild loquat, mahobohobo) Uapaca kirkiana
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica