Mango
Mangifera indica
Overview
Mango is the most important tropical fruit in the world, and South Florida is the only place in the continental United States where it can be grown commercially. The trees are long-lived, beautiful shade trees that produce abundantly once established — a mature mango tree can yield 100–200 pounds of fruit per year.
Florida's mango history runs deep. The Haden variety, which launched the modern global mango industry, originated from a seedling planted in Coconut Grove in 1902. Today, South Florida is home to hundreds of named mango varieties, maintained by dedicated collectors and the Tropical Fruit Society of South Florida. The annual International Mango Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden celebrates this diversity with tastings of dozens of varieties.
Growing in Florida
South Florida (USDA zones 10b–11) is the only viable mango-growing region in the continental U.S. Freeze damage is the primary limiting factor — temperatures below 30°F can kill young trees and damage mature ones. The commercial mango industry is centered in Miami-Dade County, but most of Florida's mangoes are grown in residential yards. Homestead, Coconut Grove, and Coral Gables are particularly known for their mango diversity. The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden maintains an important mango germplasm collection, and the annual Mango Festival draws thousands. Central Florida gardeners can attempt mangoes in protected microclimates, but fruit production is unreliable due to occasional freezes.
Planting Calendar
| Zone | JanJ | FebF | MarM | AprA | MayM | JunJ | JulJ | AugA | SepS | OctO | NovN | DecD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North FL | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Central FL | · | · | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| South FL | · | · | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Growing Guide
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Florida Varieties
Flavor Profile
Nutrition Highlights
Culinary Uses
Eaten fresh, sliced or cubed. Blended into smoothies, lassis, and frozen desserts. Made into chutneys, salsas, and hot sauces. Dried into chewy snacks. Pureed for sauces and desserts. Green (unripe) mango is used in Thai and Indian salads and pickles. Mango sticky rice is a beloved Thai dessert easily made with Florida mangoes. Key West mango salsa is a Florida classic.
Storage Tips
Ripen mangoes at room temperature until they yield to gentle pressure and emit a fruity aroma at the stem end. Ripe mangoes keep 5–7 days in the refrigerator. For freezing, peel, cube, and freeze in a single layer on a sheet pan before bagging. Frozen mango keeps 10–12 months. During Florida's June–August mango season, processing excess fruit into frozen puree is the best way to preserve the harvest.
The Haden mango — the variety that launched the worldwide commercial mango industry — grew from a seed planted by Captain John J. Haden in Coconut Grove, Florida in 1902. Every Haden mango tree in the world traces back to that single South Florida seedling.