Mangos
Mangoes are widely grown as a dooryard tree in many areas of Hawaii. The fruits are mostly eaten fresh, but are easily made into ice cream, chutney, relish, pickles, preserves, juice and a wide array of baked delights. The first plants were brought to Hawaii around 1824 from India and the Philippines. Many varieties and seedling selections are successfully grown here, with resistance to anthracnose fungus being the most important adaptation. This tolerance is crucial as the flowering season is usually humid and rainy. These wet conditions cause increased flower and fruit drop, reduced fruit set and black spots can develop later on the fruit.
Mangoes grow best in areas with 40 to 60 inches of rain annually. They grow into a large, spreading trees that can reach 20 feet tall or more. A grafted tree will begin to bear fruit after 3 to 4 years in the ground, with most varieties being harvested in the summer months. There are many popular varieties available in Hawaii.
Brook's Late
Brook's Late is a Florida selection that bears from August into October. Trees are medium sized and vigorous. Fruit size range between 16 to 30 ounces. Flesh is sweet and mild, with a thin seed and green skin when ripe. It can be grown successfully on both the windward and leeward areas of the islands.
Carrie
Carrie is a Florida selection that regularly fruits in June and July. The fruits are fibreless, sweet and spicy with a thin seed. The skin is golden yellow, fruits weigh between 10 and 16 ounces. The variety is resistant to anthracnose and tree growth is dense and compact.
Exel
Excel is a high-quality Hawaii selection that bears regularly in July and August. Fruits average about a 16 ounces with very little fiber and a very thin seed. Trees are upright, slow growing and medium sized and are best planted in dry areas only.
Fairchild
Fairchild is a Florida selection that fruits in June and July. Fruit size is 6 to 8 ounces; the flesh is juicy, low in fiber, sweet and rich with a yellow-green skin when ripe. Trees are upright and medium sized, tolerate wetter climates and are anthracnose tolerant.
Florigon
Florigon is a large, vigorous grower with yellow fruits and excellent flavor. The yellow melting flesh is juicy and fibreless. It bears 10 to 16 ounce fruits annually between May and July. It is anthracnose resistant.
Glenn
Glenn is a ‘Haden’ seedling selection from Florida, it is a small to medium size tree that regularly bears 16 ounce, low fiber, spicy, rich flavored fruits. Season is from May to July and it is resistant to anthracnose.
Golden Glow
Golden glow is a delicious selection from Kihei, Maui that bears regularly in May through June. The 20 to 24 ounce fruit has very little fiber, a thin seed and great flavor. It grows medium sized and is best suited for dry places only.
Haden
Haden has an excellent, spicy flavor and varied skin color and is a long-time favorite in Hawaii. Fruits are ready to harvest between June and July, averaging between 16 to 24 ounces. Haden tends towards a vigorous, spreading habit and generally bears fruit every other year. It is best suited for dry areas only.
Julie
Julie is a dwarf, North Africa selection. It is a small, slower grower with fruit size from 6 to 10 ounces. The summer fruit is fibreless, smooth and delicious and the skin is yellow with a red blush. It is best to plant in dry areas.
Keitt
Keitt is an excellent quality, regular and abundant bearer of large fruit ranging from 2 to 4 pounds. Trees grow vigorously to medium size. The trees fruit from August to October. The flesh is sweet with low fiber, and a thin seed and the skin is green with a purple or red blush. It is anthracnose resistant and the fruit has a long shelf life.
Nam Doc Mai
Nam Doc Mai is a Thailand variety that fruits in June and July. Fruit is slender with a somewhat thick, greenish-yellow skin. The flesh is fibreless, very sweet and juicy and can be eaten when green and tends to flower more than once a year. In Hawaii it is an alternate bearer like Haden and Pirie, fruiting every other year.. It is also anthracnose resistant and can be planted in wetter areas.
Pope
Pope is a medium size tree that is a regular, heavy bearer of high quality fruit. The yellow skinned, red blushed fruits are ripe in July and August and average 10 to 18 ounces. Trees fruit best in dry areas.
R2E2
R2E2 is a smooth skinned golden fruit with a red blush color that tends to be oblong shaped with a very small seed. It bears a regular heavy crop of fruits 16 to 24 ounces that are rich, melting and spicy with no fiber. Trees fruit best in dry areas.
Rapoza
Rapoza is a fabulous Hawaii selection that is a medium sized, vigorous, heavy producing tree with excellent fruit quality that range between 15 and 30 ounces. The ripe skin is yellow with a red or purple blush. The fruit has a thin seed, is fibreless and bears annually in July and August.
Gouveia
Gouveia is a Pirie seedling selection from Oahu that regularly bears in August. Trees grow upright and medium sized. Flesh is sweet, fibreless, and fruit averaging from 16 to 24 ounces. It is only suitable to plant in dry areas.
Mapulehu/Joe Welsh
Mapulehu is a Molokai seedling selection that produces 16 to 20 ounce juicy and delicious fruit with no fiber. The trees grow vigorously and spreading, and bear fruit heavily in July. Trees fruit best in dry areas.
Pirie
Pirie is a widely planted older variety, with alternate bearing season, producing fruit every other year. Flesh is fibreless, juicy, melting and sweet. Fruit size ranges from 8 to 10 ounces, and is ripe in July and August. The tree grows vigorously and should be planted in dry areas only.
White Pirie
White Pirie is an older variety of mango that tends toward alternate bearing; grows vigorously, producing best in dry areas and has a spreading habit. Fruits range from 8 to 12 ounces, similar to ‘Pirie’ fruits, but with lighter colored flesh.