Family: Clusiaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Garcinia mangostana, commonly known as mangosteen, is a slow-growing tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, including Borneo and Malaya. It thrives in warm, humid environments and produces round, deep purple fruits with a հաստ rind and soft, white segmented flesh inside. Mangosteen is prized for its sweet, slightly tangy flavor and is often called the “queen of fruits.” The fruit is commonly eaten fresh and used in juices, desserts, and preserves, while parts of the plant—especially the rind—have a history of use in traditional medicine.

Risks & Threats:
Mangosteen is considered a low-risk species and is not known to be invasive in Hawaiʻi or similar tropical regions. It has specific environmental requirements, including consistent moisture, rich soils, and stable temperatures, which limit its ability to spread outside cultivation. The species does not readily naturalize or form wild populations, and it does not compete aggressively with native plants. As a result, mangosteen poses minimal ecological threat and is generally a safe choice for cultivation in appropriate settings.

High Risk Traits:

• Shade tolerant (young plants)
  
• Host for recognized pests and pathogens
  
• Reproduces via viable seeds
  
• Self-compatible/apomictic (produces seeds without pollination)
  
• Seeds intentionally dispersed by people
  
• History of repeated introductions outside native range

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of naturalization or weediness despite widespread cultivation
  
• Not documented as invasive
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not toxic to animals or humans
  
• Requires specific tropical climate (narrow temperature tolerance)
  
• Prefers deep, rich, well-drained soils; performs poorly on sandy or limestone soils
  
• No vegetative fragmentation
  
• No prolific seed production
  
• Seeds have short viability (days to weeks)
  
• Slow growth; long time to fruiting (7–20 years)