Mango tree Osteen - Mangifera indica

Mangifera indica 'Osteen' is a variety of mango tree prized for its large, almost fibreless fruits, with a sweet, tropical flavour. This selection is probably the best suited to warm Mediterranean conditions, which explains its success among Andalusian growers. In most areas, container cultivation will be essential, and this mango tree will be appreciated for its beautiful evergreen foliage.

The Mango Tree is a member of the Anacardiaceae family, along with the Pistachio tree and the Cashew tree, which produces the cashew nut. In our temperate climate gardens, the main representative is the Sumac (or Rhus), with its highly ornamental, deeply divided leaves that turn fiery red in autumn. While there are no fewer than 69 species within the genus Mangifera, only M. indica is intensively cultivated for its fruit. This tree is native to a region stretching from India to Burma, characterised by a monsoon climate. Emblematic of tropical zones, the Mango Tree has been cultivated in India for over 4,000 years and is the second most important fruit tree after the Banana tree. It develops into a medium to large-sized tree, commonly reaching 10 to 25 metres in height, and more rarely, in some aged specimens, 30 to 40 metres. It typically has a rounded habit, almost as wide as it is tall, forming a fairly regular, rounded crown. It is a beautiful tree, easily recognisable from a distance by its silhouette, though it is more commonly found in orchards than in the wild. It forms a relatively short trunk that branches out strongly and widens.
The evergreen foliage has significant ornamental appeal. The alternate leaves are lanceolate, very elongated, up to 30 cm long and only about 6 cm wide. They are very abundant and give the tree a characteristic bushy appearance. Their surface appears varnished, and young leaves are often a coppery red colour. Flowering occurs after the dry season, around February-March, induced by both dry air and a drop in temperatures. The tree then produces large, 20 to 35 cm long panicles of numerous greenish-yellow flowers. This exuberance is necessary, as less than 1/1000 of them will reach the fruit set stage, where the fertilised flower begins to transform into fruit. The fruits are drupes, with a fairly thick epidermis that is initially greenish with reddish patches, then turns orange-red or orange as they mature.
Cultivating the Mango Tree is quite complex, as the plant requires moisture during its growth phase (while being susceptible to certain diseases if annual rainfall exceeds 2000 mm) and a rest period of about three months, with lower temperatures and no rainfall, corresponding to the dry season in the tropics (the equivalent of our winter).

The 'Osteen' mango tree, selected by breeders in Florida, is one of the most adaptable to climates such as that of the Costa Tropical in Spain, at the southernmost tip of Andalusia, where it is the leading cultivated variety. It produces fruits weighing between 300 and 700 g, with a slightly fibrous, orange-yellow flesh, making it very pleasant to eat, especially as the stone is quite small. Its taste is sweet, and the flesh can be easily enjoyed with a spoon.

Except in the rare areas mentioned earlier, its cultivation can only be considered in containers, as the Osteen Mango Tree is almost intolerant of frost. It can therefore spend the summer outdoors once night-time temperatures exceed 5 to 8°C and will need to be brought indoors in autumn to a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory large enough to accommodate it. Even so, its care will be challenging, as the Mango Tree's deep taproot system is probably not compatible with limited depth over the long term... And unless you have a greenhouse to keep it in year-round, you should not expect flowering, let alone fruit. It is therefore for its tropical appearance and beautiful foliage that you may choose to grow it. It will allow you to create an exotic scene alongside a beautiful Banana Tree or a Buddha's Hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) with its fascinating digitate fruits.