Langsat (duku) Lansium parasiticum
Langsat (duku) (Lansium parasiticum) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Meliaceae family, native to Western Malesia. It grows 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall and 6–10 m (20–33 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about 12 °C (54 °F). Space plants about 8 m (26 ft) apart.
Plan Langsat (duku) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Langsat (duku) at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Meliaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 m (33–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 6–10 m (20–33 ft) |
| Spacing | 8 m (26 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 12 °C (54 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | about 521–782 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: fruit (translucent segments) |
| Native to | Western Malesia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
Is Langsat (duku) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Seeds are bitter; do not eat.
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 Langsat (duku)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
Questions about Langsat (duku)
- How far apart should I plant Langsat (duku)?
- About 8 m (26 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 6–10 m (20–33 ft).
- Does Langsat (duku) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Langsat (duku) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Langsat (duku)?
- It tolerates about 12 °C (54 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Langsat (duku) flower?
- About 521–782 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks.
- Is Langsat (duku) 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. Seeds are bitter; do not eat.
- What grows well with Langsat (duku)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Langsat (duku). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- PROSEA: Plant Resources of South-East Asia, PROSEA Foundation, Bogor
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Fruit hangs in bunches from the trunk and older branches (cauliflory). Seedlings take 12–20 years to bear.
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
- Big-leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla
- Neem Azadirachta indica
- Chinaberry (Persian lilac) Melia azedarach
- Santol Sandoricum koetjape
- Chinese perfume plant (mock lime, prayong) Aglaia odorata
- Dry-zone mahogany (Senegal mahogany, caïlcédrat) Khaya senegalensis
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum