Description

General aspect and origins - Garcinia mangostana is also known as mangosteen. It is a tree which is native to tropical Asia, including the Malay Peninsula. Although a slow grower, it can reach more than 85 ft (25 m) tall. It has an evergreen foliage, yellow-red flowers, and edible fruits, which are highly appreciated.
Leaves - Leaves of the mangosteen are evergreen, opposite, oblong, leathery and glossy on the upper side. They are up to 10 in (25 cm) long.
Flowers - Flowers are yellow-green and red. They are up to 2 in (5 cm) in diameter.
Fruits - The mangosteen is a spherical tropical fruit that can be up to 1.5 to 3 in (4 to 7.5 cm) in diameter. It has a thick purple-red skin, and juicy edible white arils. This fruit has a good flavor which generally highly appreciated.

Culture

The mangosteen is a strictly tropical tree that will be killed by temperatures below 41°C (5°C). It should be grown in USDA zones 11 where humid conditions are met.
Soil - This tree needs a soil that remains moist. It is not adapted to soils with high levels of salinity.

Propagation

Mangosteens are generally propagated by "seeds" (which are not trully seeds, as they are not produced from a sexual fertilization), as the young seedlings come "true-to-seeds". Seeds have a very short viability (of about a few days) and should be planted as soon as fresh as possible.