Carrie is a compact, fiberless mango from Florida, and it is the best variety for a pot or a small yard. It ripens in June and July in South Florida, gives 10–12 oz fruit with a rich, sweet flavor and a spicy aroma, and is moderately resistant to anthracnose. Plant it in the ground in zones 10–11, or grow it in a container in any other zone. This page covers Carrie only. For planting and care, read our mango tree guide, and to compare it with other types, see the mango varieties guide.
- USDA zones
- 10–11 in ground · any zone in a pot
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Delray Beach, Florida, 1940
- Container friendly
- Yes, with yearly pruning
- Tree size
- Compact; dwarf per CRFG
- Fruit weight
- 10–12 oz (280–340 g)
- Flavor
- Fiberless, rich, sweet, spicy aroma
- Ripe skin
- Greenish-yellow to yellow-orange
- Florida season
- June–July
- Anthracnose
- Moderately resistant
- Seed type
- Monoembryonic
Carrie mango flavor and fruit
Carrie is fiberless, so the flesh is smooth with no strings to catch in your teeth. UF/IFAS describes a spicy aroma and a rich, sweet flavor. The fruit weighs 10–12 oz (UF/IFAS landscape guide), and UF/IFAS Mango Science lists 280–450 g. The California Rare Fruit Growers say up to 12 oz. When ripe, the skin is greenish-yellow to yellow-orange with small white dots.
Carrie ripens early to midseason, in June and July in South Florida. Check the other signs in how to tell if a mango is ripe, and see how to cut a mango when the fruit is ready.
Carrie was a seedling of Sophie Fry, raised in Delray Beach, Florida, in 1940.
The Carrie tree and how big it gets
Carrie is the compact choice among the varieties we cover. UF/IFAS Mango Science describes low vigor and a rounded, compact canopy, and the California Rare Fruit Growers call the tree dwarf. The UF/IFAS landscape guide, though, rates its vigor high. Sources disagree, so do not expect it to stay small by itself.
Plan to keep it at 6–10 ft with yearly pruning, or 6–8 ft in a pot. Prune right after harvest, and finish by the end of July in Florida. Mangoes flower on shoots that mature in fall, so late pruning removes next year’s flowers.
Growing Carrie: zones, pots and the ground
In the ground, Carrie needs zones 10–11. Space a compact tree 10–15 ft from buildings and other trees. Young trees can die at 29–30°F (−1.5°C), so cover them with frost cloth when a freeze is forecast. In zone 9 it can survive in a protected spot, but one hard frost can kill it to the ground.
In a pot, Carrie works in any zone. Start a 3-gallon tree in a 10-gallon pot with drainage holes and move it up to 15–25 gallons. Bring it inside when nights drop below 40°F (4°C). Our mango in containers guide has pot sizes, a soil mix and a winter plan.
Disease. Moderately resistant is not immune. Anthracnose spreads in rain and dew, so in a humid area protect the flowers with copper from flowering until fruit sets.
From seed. Carrie is monoembryonic, so a seed from a Carrie mango grows a different tree. Buy it grafted. A grafted tree usually fruits 3–5 years after planting. If you want to experiment with seeds anyway, read the mango from seed guide.
Mangoes are self-fertile, so one Carrie tree is enough to set fruit.
How Carrie compares with other mango varieties
| Variety | Tree | Fruit weight | Flavor | Florida season | Anthracnose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie | Compact; low vigor per Mango Science | 10–12 oz | Fiberless, rich, sweet, spicy aroma | June–July | Moderately resistant |
| Nam Doc Mai | Medium to high vigor | 12–20 oz | Fiberless, very sweet, spicy | June–July | Moderately susceptible |
| Glenn | Moderate vigor | 12–18 oz | Fiberless, rich, spicy | June–July | Moderately susceptible |
| Keitt | Medium to high vigor | 20–40 oz | Little fiber, sweet, mild | August–September | Moderately resistant |
Choose Carrie over Nam Doc Mai if space is tight or you garden in a humid area. Choose Nam Doc Mai if you want to grow from seed. Glenn ripens at the same time and has a similar flavor, but UF/IFAS rates it moderately susceptible to anthracnose and moderate in vigor. Keitt has the same anthracnose rating and ripens late, but its fruit weighs 20–40 oz and the tree is medium to high in vigor. Keitt needs a lot more room.
Where to buy a Carrie mango tree
Buy a grafted tree in a 3-gallon pot, which is more forgiving than a small starter and closer to fruiting size. Order in spring so the tree has a full warm season to settle in before its first winter. Check that the label says Carrie and that the tree is grafted.
Once you have the tree, our mango varieties guide can help you decide whether a second variety is worth the space.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carrie a dwarf mango?
It is a naturally compact tree. UF/IFAS Mango Science describes low vigor and a rounded, compact canopy, and the California Rare Fruit Growers call it dwarf. UF/IFAS's landscape guide rates its vigor high, so it still needs pruning to stay small.
Does Carrie mango have fiber?
No. UF/IFAS lists Carrie as fiberless, with a spicy aroma and a rich, sweet flavor. The fruit weighs 10–12 oz (UF/IFAS landscape guide).
Will a Carrie mango grown from seed give the same fruit?
No. Carrie is monoembryonic, so a seedling will not match its parent. Buy a grafted tree to get true Carrie fruit, usually 3–5 years after planting.
Sources
- Mango Growing in the Florida Home Landscape (HS2/MG216), UF/IFAS Extension
- Carrie mango phenology, UF/IFAS Mango Science
- Mango Fruit Facts, California Rare Fruit Growers