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Mangosteen Flower Wikimedia Commons
Clusiaceae

Mangosteen Flower

Garcinia mangostana

Royalty and perfection.

Family
Clusiaceae
Genus
Garcinia
Native to
Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
tree
Height
20-80 ft
Sunlight
partial shade to full sun
Soil
rich, moist, well-drained, acidic
Water
high
Hardiness
11-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Queen Victoria reportedly offered a reward of 100 pounds sterling to anyone who could bring her a fresh mangosteen fruit.
  • Mangosteen trees are famously slow growers, taking 8 to 15 years from seed to first flowering.
  • The flowers are fleshy and thick, about two inches across, with four sepals and four petals in red and green.
  • Most mangosteen trees produce fruit without pollination through a process called apomixis, making every fruit a genetic clone of the mother tree.
  • The rind of the fruit contains xanthones, compounds studied for their potent antioxidant properties.

Color meanings

0

royalty

1

luxury

2

perfection

3

patience

Uses

  • edible fruit
  • traditional medicine
  • ornamental tropical tree
  • natural dye from rind