While the name hints at the well-known mango, the mangosteen tree should not be confused with that plant or fruit. The mangosteen tree is actually in the same plant family as St. John's Wort, a recognized herbal supplement.
The tree that bears the mangosteen is as unique as is its fruit. It grows 20 to 80 feet tall. Its bark is a dark brown (nearly black) color, except when and where it’s bleeding yellow latex. It has short, thick and leathery evergreen leaves. The fruit of the mangosteen tree must be harvested by hand. 12" wide flowers grow in clusters of 3-9 at its branch tips. It takes two or more years for the tree to reach 12" in height. It is widely believed that the mangosteen trees originated in the islands of Sunda and Molucca (in the East Indies). The first fruit harvest may take place 7-9 years after planting, but most take place in the first 10-20. The average yield of full-grown trees is 500, but some trees yield as many as 5,000 ripe mangosteens. Some trees provide fruit up to 100 years. The mangosteen tree is "ultra-tropical" and can't tolerate temperatures below 40°F or above 100°F. All attempts to grow the trees in locations north of 20° latitude have failed.
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