Mangosteen Garcinia mangostana
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Clusiaceae family, native to Known only in cultivation; derived from wild Garcinia of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. It grows 6–15 m (20–49 ft) tall and 4–8 m (13–26 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about 7 °C (45 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Mangosteen in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Mangosteen at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Clusiaceae |
| Mature height | 6–15 m (20–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 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 low |
| Soil pH | 5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 7 °C (45 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: white fruit segments (aril) |
| Native to | Known only in cultivation; derived from wild Garcinia of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
Is Mangosteen toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
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 Mangosteen
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
See Mangosteen in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (3 plants)
Questions about Mangosteen
- How far apart should I plant Mangosteen?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–8 m (13–26 ft).
- Does Mangosteen need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Mangosteen need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Mangosteen?
- It tolerates about 7 °C (45 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Mangosteen flower?
- From about March for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Mangosteen 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. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Mangosteen?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Mangosteen. 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).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- EcoCrop crop environmental requirements, FAO
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Female trees set seed without pollination (apomixis), so a single tree fruits; very slow to first harvest. A conical crown of thick, glossy leaves.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
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
- Ma-dan (Garcinia schomburgkiana) Garcinia schomburgkiana
- Bitter kola (orogbo, false kola) Garcinia kola
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Raspberry Rubus idaeus
- Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
- Grapevine Vitis vinifera