TROPICAL PLANT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Garcinia livingstonei, Imbe, Rheedia, Lowveld Mangosteen

Garcinia livingstonei

Imbe, Rheedia, Lowveld Mangosteen
Family: Clusiaceae / Guttiferae
Origin: Mozambique, Zimbabwe Northern Botswana
USDA Zone: 10-11?
USDA Plant Hardiness MapLarge shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunModerate waterEdible plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.

Garcinia livingstonei is a large shrub to small tree, growing 5-10 ft tall in warmer climates and 10-20 ft tall in more temperate climates. It is an ethnomedical plant that is native to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Northern Botswana. Imbe thrives in full sun, with moderate water requirements. Once established, the plant can tolerate heavy pruning and even light frosts, making it cold hardy in USDA Zone 10-11, surviving down to temperatures of 30s F.

Fruits of Garcinia livingstonei are smallish and ovoid to round, having a thick and durable rind, which can range in color from orange to yellow. Its flesh is made up of an edible, acid-sweet whitish pulp that surrounds a small seed. The fruit is considered rich in vitamins and minerals, with a high nutritional value. When mature, a Lowveld Mangosteen can produce hundreds of fruits for harvesting.

From a plant care perspective, Garcinia livingstonei does not have particularly specific requirements. In colder regions it can easily be grown in a pot that can be moved indoors during periods of extreme cold. The plant should be pruned to control growth and encourage the formation of lateral branches, providing the stem with a bushy, globe-like shape that is aesthetically pleasing.


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Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/garcinia_livingstonei.htm