Clusiaceae
Garcinia livingstonei
African mangosteen · Mpekechu
Canopy/Emergment Tree
7 medium available right now.
About
This evergreen tree or shrub is highly variable, typically growing 2-18 metres tall with a dense, spreading, or conical crown and often a twisted trunk. Its stiff, leathery leaves are dark glossy green, generally arranged in whorls of three, and feature prominent whitish veins. It produces small, bright orange to yellow, ovoid or round berries, 1-4 cm in diameter, which contain a sweet-tart, juicy pulp with one to two large seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
This adaptable tree thrives in full sun to part shade and tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils, including sandy, poor, salt-affected, and limestone soils, making it excellent for coastal Kilifi gardens. It serves well as a specimen tree, for shade, or in xeriscaping, contributing to biodiversity restoration in dry coastal areas.
Growing notes
A slow-growing and drought-tolerant tree once established, it requires full sun and well-drained soil. While hardy to moderate cold, it prefers warm, frost-free conditions and benefits from regular watering during dry spells. For fruit production, it is advisable to plant multiple seedlings due to its dioecious nature or consider grafting.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, wikipedia.org, worldagroforestry.org, sanbi.org, veliyathgarden.com, gardeninginsouthafrica.co.za. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.