Types of Mangoes: 6 Varieties for US Gardens

Which mango to grow depends on your climate, your space and whether you want to start from seed. For a pot or a small yard, grow Carrie. To start from seed, grow Nam Doc Mai. In humid Florida, favor the moderately resistant varieties, Carrie and Keitt. In dry Southern California, Kent does well. This guide compares six types of mangoes grown in US gardens so you can pick one before you buy. For planting and care, see our mango tree guide.

Mango varieties compared

Seasons are for South Florida, and disease ratings are UF/IFAS anthracnose ratings. Every variety here is sold as a grafted tree. In the ground it needs zones 10–11, while in a pot it works in any zone. A grafted tree usually fruits 3–5 years after planting.

Pick by situation

Pots and small yards: Carrie

Carrie is the one to grow in a container. UF/IFAS Mango Science describes a low-vigor tree with a rounded, compact canopy, and the California Rare Fruit Growers call it dwarf. The fruit weighs 10–12 oz and has no fiber. Do not treat “dwarf” as “never prune”: the UF/IFAS landscape guide rates Carrie’s vigor as high, so plan on pruning it every year. Our mango in containers guide covers pots, soil and winter care.

Starting from seed: Nam Doc Mai

Nam Doc Mai is the variety to try if you want to plant a seed. It is a very sweet, fiberless Thai mango, and its seeds are polyembryonic. The tree is medium to large, so it needs firm pruning every year. The mango from seed guide walks through the steps.

Humid Florida: choose for anthracnose resistance

Anthracnose is a fungus that spreads in rain and dew, and it is the main reason mango crops fail in humid areas. UF/IFAS rates Carrie and Keitt moderately resistant, Glenn and Nam Doc Mai moderately susceptible, Valencia Pride susceptible and Kent very susceptible. None is rated fully resistant, so also spray copper from flowering until fruit sets. Keitt is a good choice if you have room for a medium to large tree and want late fruit, in August and September.

Dry California: Kent is fine

Kent is very susceptible to anthracnose, which makes it a poor bet in a rainy Florida spring, but it does well in dry Southern California. It is a large, vigorous tree with 16–30 oz fruit that has little fiber and a sweet, rich flavor. Give it room, because it is the opposite of a pot variety.

Early or late fruit

Carrie, Nam Doc Mai and Glenn all ripen in June and July in South Florida. Kent and Valencia Pride follow in July and August, and Keitt comes last, in August and September. Mangoes are self-fertile, so one tree is enough. Plant a second variety only if you want a longer harvest.

Polyembryonic and monoembryonic mangoes

UF/IFAS lists a seed type for each variety. Nam Doc Mai is polyembryonic: the seed holds several embryos, and most sprouts are clones of the parent, so the fruit should be similar. Carrie, Glenn, Keitt, Kent and Valencia Pride are monoembryonic. A seedling of one of these will not match its parent, and the tree may give small, fibrous fruit. If you want a named variety, buy it grafted, and read our mango from seed guide before you plant a pit.

Next steps

Pickering and Ataulfo are also sold in the US. UF/IFAS describes Pickering as low in fiber, very sweet and mildly coconut-like, and Ataulfo as low in fiber and sweet with a slight acidity, but we have not written full guides to them yet.

Once your tree fruits, learn the signs in how to tell if a mango is ripe and then how to cut a mango. For more fruit that grows in warm climates, browse tropical fruit.