About the speciesABOUT THE SPECIES — Ripe Garcinia intermedia fruit. Fruit not included; this listing is a live plant.
Tropical Fruit Plants
Lemon Drop Mangosteen Live Plant – 4–6"
Garcinia intermedia
Garcinia intermedia • Mameyito • Clusiaceae
$21.49for live plant
LIVE PLANT
FREE SHIPPING
In stock — live plants are carefully prepared and dispatched within 1–2 business days
You are purchasing ONE live Garcinia intermedia plant approximately 4–6 inches tall. Fruit is not included. FREE SHIPPING.
1
One live Garcinia intermedia (Lemon Drop Mangosteen / Mameyito) plant approximately 4–6 inches tall. Fruit not included. Free shipping.
- Free shipping on this listing
- Secure encrypted checkout
- Carefully packed in Puerto Rico
- Detailed growing guide included
- Scientific name
- Garcinia intermedia (Pittier) Hammel
- Family
- Clusiaceae
- Product type
- Live plant
- Size
- Approximately 4–6 inches tall
- Habit
- Slow, evergreen, conical small tree
- Light
- Bright filtered light when young; more sun as it matures
- Soil
- Rich, moisture-retentive yet well-drained
- Climate
- Tropical; protect from cold and frost
Garcinia intermedia is a small evergreen tree native to Central America and southern Mexico, where it grows in humid lowland and foothill forest. It belongs to the Clusiaceae, the same family and genus as the true mangosteen—but it is a distinct species, not Garcinia mangostana.
Its name comes from the fruit: small, round to slightly oval, and a vivid lemon-yellow to orange when ripe. Beneath a thin, easily peeled skin sits translucent white, aromatic pulp around one or two seeds. The flavor is bright and sweet-tart—closer to a lemony candy than to the mellow sweetness of mangosteen.
The tree forms a tidy, upright, conical crown of stiff, glossy, deep-green leaves held in opposite pairs, with small pale flowers along the branches. Like many Garcinia, it contains yellowish latex in its tissues.
Young Garcinia grow slowly and establish best with steady warmth, humidity and protection from harsh sun. This plant is sold as the species; we do not claim a named cultivar or a fruiting age.
What You Receive
- One live Garcinia intermedia (Lemon Drop Mangosteen) plant
- Approximately 4–6 inches tall
- Natural variation in height, leaf count and shape
- No cultivar claimed
- Fruit is not included
- Free shipping
- Access to the dedicated Lemon Drop Mangosteen growing guide
You are purchasing ONE live Garcinia intermedia plant approximately 4–6 inches tall. Fruit is not included. FREE SHIPPING.
Live Plant — Fruit Is Not Included
Fruit photographs are for species reference. You receive one young plant, shown in the WHAT YOU RECEIVE photo.
Fruiting age, yield and fruit characteristics are not guaranteed.
Young Garcinia may pause growth or drop a leaf after shipping while adjusting. This is normal.
First weeks at home
Establishing Your Lemon Drop Mangosteen
- 1
Unpack gently
Open the box on arrival, stand the plant upright and handle it by the pot—Garcinia roots dislike disturbance.
- 2
Check moisture
Water if the mix feels dry and let it drain. Aim for evenly moist, never soggy.
- 3
Shade and humidity
Rest it in bright, filtered light away from wind and direct afternoon sun for one to two weeks.
- 4
Stay warm
Keep above roughly 60°F (15°C); young Garcinia stall or suffer in cold.
- 5
Pot up carefully
Once new leaves harden, move to a slightly larger pot of rich, free-draining mix without breaking the root ball.
- 6
Feed lightly
Start gentle, diluted feeding only when active growth resumes.
CORRECT ✓
Filtered light, steady warmth and humidity, even moisture, rich free-draining mix and root-ball-intact transplanting.
AVOID ✕
Full sun on arrival, cold drafts, letting the root ball dry out, waterlogging, or breaking up the roots.
A Garcinia Unlike the Mangosteen
Garcinia is a large genus of tropical trees known for latex-filled tissues and paired, leathery leaves. Garcinia intermedia shares those traits with mangosteen, but its fruit is small, yellow and tangy rather than large, purple and mild.
It is a species in its own right from the forests of Central America—not a mangosteen variety or hybrid.
Fresh fruit FAQ
Questions about fresh cacao pods
- Is this the true mangosteen?
- No. Garcinia intermedia is a related species in the same genus. True mangosteen is Garcinia mangostana, with purple fruit and a very different flavor.
- Why is it called Lemon Drop Mangosteen?
- For its small, bright-yellow fruit and sweet-tart, lemon-candy flavor, combined with its relationship to mangosteen.
- Can I grow it in a pot?
- Yes, especially while young. Its slow, compact growth suits containers for several years; protect it from cold in non-tropical climates.
- When will it fruit?
- Fruiting depends on growth rate, light and climate. No fruiting age is guaranteed; Garcinia are generally slow to reach maturity.
Fruit and Flavor
Ripe fruit is thin-skinned and easy to open by hand. The juicy white pulp clings to the seed and is eaten fresh; its sweet-acid balance is refreshing and is also used for drinks and preserves where the fruit is common.
Flavor is sharpest before full color, so fruit is best picked fully yellow-orange and slightly soft.
Fresh fruit FAQ
Questions about fresh cacao pods
- Is this the true mangosteen?
- No. Garcinia intermedia is a related species in the same genus. True mangosteen is Garcinia mangostana, with purple fruit and a very different flavor.
- Why is it called Lemon Drop Mangosteen?
- For its small, bright-yellow fruit and sweet-tart, lemon-candy flavor, combined with its relationship to mangosteen.
- Can I grow it in a pot?
- Yes, especially while young. Its slow, compact growth suits containers for several years; protect it from cold in non-tropical climates.
- When will it fruit?
- Fruiting depends on growth rate, light and climate. No fruiting age is guaranteed; Garcinia are generally slow to reach maturity.
Growth Habit and Care
Expect slow, steady growth into a neat, pyramidal evergreen. Young plants appreciate partial shade and humidity; older trees tolerate more sun and fruit better in bright light.
Use rich, organic, well-drained soil and consistent water. Garcinia do not like drying out or sitting wet, and they resent root damage when transplanted.
Fresh fruit FAQ
Questions about fresh cacao pods
- Is this the true mangosteen?
- No. Garcinia intermedia is a related species in the same genus. True mangosteen is Garcinia mangostana, with purple fruit and a very different flavor.
- Why is it called Lemon Drop Mangosteen?
- For its small, bright-yellow fruit and sweet-tart, lemon-candy flavor, combined with its relationship to mangosteen.
- Can I grow it in a pot?
- Yes, especially while young. Its slow, compact growth suits containers for several years; protect it from cold in non-tropical climates.
- When will it fruit?
- Fruiting depends on growth rate, light and climate. No fruiting age is guaranteed; Garcinia are generally slow to reach maturity.
Flowering and Fruit Development
Small, pale flowers appear along the branches of mature trees and are followed by clusters of green fruit that turn yellow to orange as they ripen. Timing depends heavily on age, climate and care.
Fresh fruit FAQ
Questions about fresh cacao pods
- Is this the true mangosteen?
- No. Garcinia intermedia is a related species in the same genus. True mangosteen is Garcinia mangostana, with purple fruit and a very different flavor.
- Why is it called Lemon Drop Mangosteen?
- For its small, bright-yellow fruit and sweet-tart, lemon-candy flavor, combined with its relationship to mangosteen.
- Can I grow it in a pot?
- Yes, especially while young. Its slow, compact growth suits containers for several years; protect it from cold in non-tropical climates.
- When will it fruit?
- Fruiting depends on growth rate, light and climate. No fruiting age is guaranteed; Garcinia are generally slow to reach maturity.
Common Mistakes
- Moving a newly arrived plant into strong sun
- Letting the pot dry completely
- Cold exposure below about 50°F (10°C)
- Heavy, poorly drained soil
- Disturbing roots when repotting
- Expecting fast growth or early fruit
Fresh fruit FAQ
Questions about fresh cacao pods
- Is this the true mangosteen?
- No. Garcinia intermedia is a related species in the same genus. True mangosteen is Garcinia mangostana, with purple fruit and a very different flavor.
- Why is it called Lemon Drop Mangosteen?
- For its small, bright-yellow fruit and sweet-tart, lemon-candy flavor, combined with its relationship to mangosteen.
- Can I grow it in a pot?
- Yes, especially while young. Its slow, compact growth suits containers for several years; protect it from cold in non-tropical climates.
- When will it fruit?
- Fruiting depends on growth rate, light and climate. No fruiting age is guaranteed; Garcinia are generally slow to reach maturity.
Why grow it
Why grow Lemon Drop Mangosteen?
Uncommon Garcinia fruit species
Bright yellow, sweet-tart fruit
Neat, glossy evergreen form
Suited to containers while young
Honest species identification
Free shipping
You may also like
Related products
