Mango tree

How to identify a mango tree

A mango tree has long, leathery leaves 10 to 30 cm long, arranged singly or in whorls, that are glossy green and aromatic when crushed, and its new growth comes through reddish before turning green. From about July, large branched sprays of tiny, fragrant cream, pinkish or purplish flowers appear at the branch tips. The familiar fruit follows, green at first and ripening to yellow, orange or red. Out of season, the size of the leaves and their strong smell when crushed are the best clues.

Growing a mango tree in Brisbane

Mangoes need warmth, shelter and free-draining soil, and they are at their best in tropical and subtropical climates, so a sunny Brisbane yard suits them. Young trees can be killed by frost, so give them protection in low, frost-prone spots for their first winters. Allow for an 8 to 12 metre tree unless you plan to prune every year, or choose a dwarf variety. Anthracnose, a fungal disease that damages the flowers and fruit, is the main problem, and fruit fly can attack late-ripening varieties.

What to watch out for

Mango sap is caustic and can burn the skin, and some people react strongly to it, so wear gloves and long sleeves when picking fruit or pruning. Ripening fruit attracts flying foxes and birds, and fruit fly is a risk for late varieties. Left unpruned, a mango can grow to 20 metres, putting most of the crop out of reach, and big limbs over a roof are a job for a professional with the right gear.

• Irritant sap or hairs. The sap is caustic and can burn the skin, and certain people react badly to it, so wear gloves when picking or pruning.
• Size. Left unpruned it can reach 20 metres in Australia, which puts most of the fruit out of reach.

Pruning and care

Prune right after harvest, shortening the branch ends by about 30 cm to keep the tree at a safe picking height and to remove diseased tips. Mangoes flower and fruit only from the tips of mature wood, so heavy pruning close to flowering can cost you the next crop. Dead, diseased or rubbing branches can come off whenever you notice them; cut just outside the branch collar and skip wound paints. Give it a feed of fruit tree fertiliser twice over summer, once in December and again in February, and watch for anthracnose once flowering starts.

• Tree pruning
• Tree removal
• Stump grinding