Four seeds from a single fruit turned into four trees, three of which are still with us five years later, which is exactly the kind of gamble a dioecious species makes you take.
The Basics
Seashore mangosteen, Garcinia hombroniana (sometimes still sold under the older name Garcinia celebica), is a relative of true mangosteen in the family Clusiaceae.
Origin and Habitat
Native to coastal forests of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, tolerant of sandy, salty, seaside conditions that regular mangosteen wouldn’t put up with.
What It Looks Like
A smaller, more compact tree than true mangosteen, with similar glossy leaves and segmented fruit.
Uses and Flavor
The segmented flesh has a slightly sour apple-peach flavor, lighter and tangier than the deep sweetness of a true mangosteen.
Growing It Here
Sprouted four seeds from a single fruit Julia brought home, and it turns out this one is dioecious, meaning you need both a male and female tree to get fruit, unlike mangosteen itself which can go it alone. Three of the four are still growing five years on, still under 7 feet tall, slow like most garcinias, including our lemon drop mangosteen and guaquica. Still no fruit yet, but three trees still gives us decent odds on getting both a male and a female in the mix.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Nothing to report yet, still young.
Kenta’s Take
Betting on seedlings to sort out their own genetics is about as hands off as plant breeding gets. I like those odds, and I can’t wait to actually taste one again.