One of the many trees in the running count from partway through the one-tree-a-day year. I don’t have much more of a story on this one yet, just glad it’s in the ground and growing.
The Basics
Gourka, Garcinia dulcis, is a fruit tree in the mangosteen family, Clusiaceae. It also goes by names like yellow mangosteen, eggtree, and baniti. It’s a close cousin of our achachairu and mangosteen, same genus.
Origin and Habitat
Native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, where it grows in lowland tropical forest.
What It Looks Like
A relative of mangosteen, in the same broad family, bearing yellow-orange fruit.
Uses and Flavor
Haven’t gotten to try the fruit ourselves yet, so no firsthand flavor notes here.
Growing It Here
Honestly, no bigger story to tell yet on this one — it went in during a stretch of the one-tree-a-day project where a lot of trees were going into the ground without much fanfare, and this was one of them. It’s still growing, currently under 6 feet tall, but since it’s a Garcinia that’s about what I’d expect, this whole genus is a slow grower, same as our lemon drop mangosteen and seashore mangosteen. Not producing yet.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Nothing to report yet.
Kenta’s Take
Not every tree here comes with a memorable planting day, and that’s fine — this is one that’s just quietly, slowly doing its Garcinia thing while I catch up on writing its story.