I selected my mango trees based foremost on tree size and a flavor profile I like. Essentially, I went to the Fairchild festival and picked based on tree size from their offerings. Manilita had no info available in it it other than Fairchild's description, so took a chance. I knew where the tree was going to be planted, so the very narrow shape it can be maintained in is great. Fruit are a bit on the small side, but for me, 30 small fruit are much better than zero large fruit if the tree gets too big to frost protect. So while it might not be a top choice in s fl, I'm not disappointed. Also, it is a beautifully shaped tree, I've done very little to shape it just grows with a nice shape. So that is also a benefit for me since it is in my front yard in an hoa controlled neighborhood.
Bsbullie, still curious to know if using manilita as the root stock passes on the small size to what you graft to it?
Perennial peanut comes in 2 forms. The one that I have grows from risomes, and even if killed to the ground by frost, comes back fine, I mow it ti the ground each spring, do some weeding, and that's really it for the year. The other variety spreads by above ground stolons, and is not so tolerant of mowing down, and seems less dense and more prone to weeds.