Another naturally compact tree, per the appearance of two trees at Zill's,  is the 'Rapoza', originally from Hawai'i.

It can be recommended to anyone wanting a compact tree with disease-resistant fruits and very good productivity, with fruit size and color and flavor similar to 'Kent.'

A few dozen trees will be available next year.  More can be grafted this year if there seems to be market interest.

Thanks, added to the list!

A table summarizing season and flavor profile would be a great idea!

Then I will definitely start working on it!

Starch,  thank you so much for this thread. It has been very educational for me to see what the folks on here have to say on the subject.  It has definitely made me think of what type of mango I may try to plant in the ground (only got space for 1 variety so gotta make it count). 

Thanks palologrower, absolutely! Glad you find it useful!

Has there been any thought to ranking the list?  It would be subjective and difficult to evaluate since everyone's views are different let alone some may not have experience with a number of the varieties on the list.  Maybe do a top 3-5 from the list?  That would seem interesting. Just a thought.

I think that would be interesting, but very subjective. The only cultivar that seems to have (near) universal appeal is Pickering, but there are still some dissenting views. Most every other cultivar has a lot of conflicting views in flavor, growth rate (which I am sure is location, climate, soil and fertilization dependent), etc. It would be hard to find a clear top 3-5.

What I might do instead is make a table of compact mangos listed by season and flavor profile, that way if someone wants to plant a couple of small trees, they would likely want their mangos to extend the season and not overlap. I think that might be a useful addition to this project. What do you think?

Yeppers.

Did you see the previous page?  I posted a fella's 6 year old Mallika that is only 3' tall. After the harvest I removed at least 1/3 of the top of my Mallika and as soon as it starts pushing again I'm hitting it with Bonzi, a PGR.

Nice, yeah I think this is the behavior that a lot of members were describing. However, I do wonder how it will react to training when it gets older (like Rob was saying, Mallika can become a 25 ft mango tree) and it wants to make the canopy of a larger tree.

However, it does seem encouraging that many people have been training Mallika successfully so far.

Thanks for the info greenman! Yeah, this article makes it seem like I will get some fruit by itself.

The curling issue may actually be a non-issue.  It could very well grow through it.

I agree with Rob, I planted some Keitt seeds recently and a couple of them showed that curl too and they grew out of it. And I think the fertilizer observation is very good. I just had some random mix sitting around, and I am pretty sure it had steer manure in it, which a mango does not need. I should be more careful with my seedling mixes.

I wanted to try to compile a list of mangoes with the following characteristics:

• Compact / Natural 'dwarf' (i.e. does not have to be in a container to be dwarfed)
• Bushy and/or spreading style growing habit
• Good producer
• Needs relatively minor pruning to keep size in check which will not adversely affect productivity
• Quality fruit (full flavor, fiberless, etc.)

Rob, Mark, zands and WGphil

Thank you for your thoughts on this matter. I really do think this is a useful discussion and is getting to the heart of this idea. I want to point out something in the original post shown above in bold. : Needs relatively minor pruning to keep size in check which will not adversely affect productivity

There are so many great mangoes that are really vigorous. Let's take Lemon Zest for example. Lemon Zest grows very fast and will become a huge tree in no time. So let's say you wanted to keep it to 8 feet tall. You would be pruning so much material so often it would be a constant struggle / chore. I also doubt you would get much production out of the tree because it would spend so much energy replacing the canopy that you keep taking away.

As Mark and Rob says, this is not a post about trying to make a large tree a bonsai, it defeats the whole purpose of a naturally small tree that produces well or a tree that can be kept small with minimal effort and still produce well.

So what do I mean by minimal effort?

In my mind it means:
- tip pruning once or twice a season before harvest
- minor pruning for shape / size control once after harvest (removal of a couple of interior upright branches. This will be done from ground level because the tree is small.)
- If the tree is too big and you have to use a ladder to do most of the controlling, or if you have to stand in the tree to do interior pruning then I would not consider it a compact mango

There is no mango tree that requires no effort. Unless you are in a mango grove set up in rows, there will always be obstacles in a growers yard that require navigating (adjacent fruit trees, perimeter walls, fences, walkways, etc.). So it is likely that even a natural dwarf like Pickering will require some pruning in its life.

It is this idea of 'minimal' pruning that interests me.

So what do you think, can Mallika be kept to a reasonable size/height (8-10 feet) with minimal effort? Or will it simply become too unwieldy as it gets older?

Many mangoes respond well to tip pruning/training but that does not make them a compact tree in any manner.  You should limit this thread to true natural compact growers.

Rob, I went ahead and added a disclaimer in bold to the Mallika post to make it absolutely clear that it is not a compact grower.

NOTE: Mallika is NOT a compact mango, please see the description of the tree size. It is a vigorous cultivar that needs pruning to be maintained at a small height. This is the reason why it was not included in the original list. However it has received several honorable mentions for responding well to tip pruning/training so it's characteristics are listed here. But please be advised that Mallika does not fit the criteria of compact mango

Cultivar Information for the master list of compact mango trees

Cultivar Name: Mallika

Tree Size, Growth Rate, Vigorousness

-- In my experience, Mallika is not a small tree; its actually a fairly vigorous grower. I would even say more than the NDM #4, dwarfing or regular rootstock. For some reason it has been promoted as a 'semi-dwarf' when it is nothing of the sort. Mallika could probably benefit more from being grafted to dwarfing stock than NDM. (REF)

-- So Mallika and Beverly and Fairchild are not very compact on their own, but can be made that way every year.(REF)

--  For a dwarf it's leggy, not well branched(REF)

-- Another mango I'd recommend is Mallika. Though it's a vertical grower like Maha Chanok, it responds very nicely to tip pruning and doesn't develop "droopy" resultant shoots like Coconut Cream and Pickering. (REF)

Productivity and Precociousness

-- Mallika: very nice sweet mango [orange, carrot, papaya tones depending on stage], great production/ disease(REF)

Ripening Time (Location dependent)

Looks like mid-season given commment timestamps

Flavor / Color / Tasting Notes

--  think Mallika fruits can be variable like Neelam. Both are Indian mangoes
I remember a poster here said his mallikas tasted like carrots and he was going to axe the tree.(REF)

-- Dasheri on the other hand gets lots of praise and is touted as the best mango India has. One neighbour even told me that a well ripened Mallika tastes just like it.(REF)

-- I've never had Mallika...I've heard the word "carrot" taste in some of the descriptions. Is it true? I personally wouldn't think I would like a Mango with that flavor in it...but I can't be sure of course till I actually taste one.(REF)

-- I don't detect any "carrot" in Mallika's flavor at all...."honey" is the dominant flavor note but it does have more subtle undertones.(REF)

-- This season is my first experience with attempting to properly ripen a Mallika Mango.  My trees produced about a dozen or so mature fruit, and I have been picking and ripening them for a few weeks.  It has been difficult to determine the correct timing, as they did appear large and mature enough to me beginning in early June.

The first fruit I attempted to ripen did color change to a nice, beautiful yellow.  When I cut it up however, it had almost zero sweetness.  Obviously picked too early.  Then over the past 6 weeks or so, I picked and ripened a number of the fruits.  All were green when picked, and were various stages of yellow when "ripe".  They were good, but not top tier, lacking enough sweetness to stand amongst the top dogs.

Then last friday, July 13th,  Sheehan brought to the tasting table at Harry's 2 beautiful yellow Mallika's.  They actually appeared fake, they were just that perfect looking.  One was tree ripened, and one was picked green and ripened in a bag.  They were both very good, and by far the best Mallika's I had had up to that point.  Top 5 out of 20+ varieties at the table.  Most agreed that the picked green individual tasted better, although some did prefer the tree ripened one.  According to Sheehan's " Brix -o-meter", the picked green one had more sugar content.

Yesterday, I had Seadation over for a mini tasting.  On the table were a fully ripened Khun See,  Nam Doc Mai, Carrie, and Alphonso, and my Mallika that had been picked green on July 5, and ripened in a paper bag for 10 days.  This (one amongst a group of 3) Mallika that I picked was not really yellow.  More of a funky green with a mottled skin.  It had been 10 days since picking, and they just "felt" right.

The result ?  The best Mallika I have ever had.  It was just delicious.  Rich, complex sweet, with hints of citrus and vanilla.  Destroyed the competition, and is burned into my memory as one of the best.(REF)

-- mallika:  sorry, I just don't like mallika, at all!(REF)

-- dear all...,Mallika mango from India is undoubtedly the world's finest mango in taste...(REF)

-- Mallika is a great mango for sure,  but "worlds finest" depends on the person eating the mango,  no mango will ever be, everyone's favorite.  also there are over 1000 varieties of mangoes with new hybrids being introduced all the time,  so even the Mallika may be bred to make it even better. (REF)

-- I will agree 100% that a well ripened Mallika can be as good ss any Zills variety. (REF)

-- I was the poster who said the Mallika tasted like carrots; and they did one year. However, in subsequent years, if they are picked at the right time they are some of the best mangoes I've had. However, they are finicky on when to be picked, and if picked too early/too late can have a carrot taste or fizz grape soda taste (overripe). I would not ax the tree we have. (REF)

Cultivar Information for the master list of compact mango trees

Cultivar Name: Villa Seņor, Villa Senor, Villaseņor, Villasenor

Tree Size, Growth Rate, Vigorousness

-- -- Here in SoCal ... Villa Seņor .. Are compact slow growers.(REF)

-- Villaseņor-Origin Los Angeles, 1950s, Sr. Villaseņor. Tree dwarf, spreading, responds to strong rootstock.  (REF)

-- Wow!! That's the perfect size mango for me...nicely shaped  ...... Gorgeous tree!!(REF)

Productivity and Precociousness

-- .... and look at ALL those mangoes on the tree!! ...(REF)

Ripening Time (Location dependent)

-- Late midseason (Dec Jan).  (REF)

Flavor / Color / Tasting Notes

-- Villaseņor-Origin Los Angeles, 1950s, Sr. Villaseņor. Tree dwarf, spreading, responds to strong rootstock. Fruit medium, to 12 oz., shape ovate, color greenish yellow, pink blush, flavor mild. Late midseason (Dec Jan). For coast, foothills. (REF)

-- This is a Socal variety, very underrated, nice flavor.(REF)

-- I've grown this mango two blocks from the ocean in south Ocean Beach in San Diego.   Villa Senor is an excellent mild mango, beautiful sweet yummy mango flavor, beautifully strong skin(not a weak skin), beautiful orange flesh, low fiber, no diseases on the fruit, no disease on the leaves.  Light brown new growth.  I grafted two seedlings that I planted from seed from store bought mangos of whatever varieties, with the Villa Senor in the late 1990's.   The seedlings were about 7 years old already, didn't produce any worthwhile fruit as seedlings.   However, in 2009 I had them both taken out in due to redevelopment.  Bonita Creek Nursery has one of them, which they're using for scion propagation.   A super basic easy growing problem free mango with basic beautiful flavor.
Where's the Villa Senor that's in the picture?
Let's get that propagated.  Let's do tissue culture to ramp up production quickly.

And with perhaps our new norm of more heat, "Enjoy The Heat, Grow Mangos"(REF)

-- Mild may be "perfect" for some people.  its all about personal taste.

there will probably never be a "perfect" mango, because of different preferences.  I would rather have a mild, sweet mango that  has a creamy texture, and nice aroma, than an intense variety that is grainy. I like Kent and Glenn which are have been labeled "mild".

and that's another point, mild to one person may be strong for another, I have even seen Keitts described as Mild, I wouldn't call those mild.

and what is it that classifies a variety as mild? just weak flavor, or low acidity? or low aroma? I mean you could have a variety that has good mango flavor, but may be low in acid and aroma, and to some that may be considered mild. then there are those that like that resin turpy flavor, and use that as the scale of what is mild or not.(REF)

Cultivar Information for the master list of compact mango trees

Cultivar Name: Thomson

Tree Size, Growth Rate, Vigorousness

-- Thomson is another California variety small to medium tree.(REF)

Productivity and Precociousness

?

Ripening Time (Location dependent)

-- It's a mid to late season fruit in SoCal October to December(REF)

Flavor / Color / Tasting Notes

--  The fruit is small fiberless and lemony sweet. (REF)

-- Found out from and old article that the varieties ;' T-1' and 'Thomson' were seedlings that Paul T. took from Old Mango that was on the property when he bought the place in Vista. That old tree was called Edgehill because his property was at end of Edgehill street at the time. That's very cool that your saving some of those varieties hopefully will grow strong for you!
Joe, there has to be a treasure drove of Mangos down in that area with all those people experimenting with them for all those years back when! Looking through the old F.G. I found out Orton H. Englehart registered a Ortonio avocado witch I had never heard of compared to Creamhart which I have heard of! (REF)

-- Scott, Jim Nitzel told us last year that Leo took cutting from Mr. Thomson and  Colonal Bucklew yards as well as other influential SoCal mango growers. They have quite a large selection that are not publish in the Fruit Gardener. For example, the Giant Rose is a large creamy, sweet, fruity mango  with a peachy taste.(REF)

-- JF - thanks for the Peggy/Ultimate clarification.  You guys speak so highly of Thomson mangoes, I wonder how much flavor improvement from the Manila?  I like Manila but that's because they're always available.(REF)

-- Thomson T-1 mango - according to Leo, Paul Thomson preferred this mango many times over his other commercialized cultivar, Thomson mango.(REF)

-- Thompson-(syn. Thomson Large Seedling)
Origin Vista, Paul Thomson, 1966. Manila seedling, polyembryonic. Tree spreading, vigor dependent upon rootstock. Fruit small to medium, (6-12 oz.), yellow, shape flat, to eight inches. Resists mildew. High fiber under chemical fertilizer regime. Season early, long (September-November), ripens well indoors if picked prematurely. For coast(REF)

Cultivar Information for the master list of compact mango trees

Cultivar Name: Rosigold

Tree Size, Growth Rate, Vigorousness

-- Based on my limited experience i would add Rosigold to the list. Mine is about 8 feet tall and its growth is pretty compact.(REF)

-- has a dwarf habit(REF)

Productivity and Precociousness

--  It's highly productive, precocious,(REF)

--  I have one that is about 3 feet tall and loaded with fruit.  (REF)

-- (On the subject of Pickering vs. Rosigold) From my experience, there is no comparison between the two as far as production and disease resistance.  Pickering wins hands down.  At my house, without spraying heavily, multiple blooming Rosigold will not mature many, if any fruits.  Even with spraying the Rosigold, while not having to spray the Pickering, I think Pickering is slightly better in overall flavor,  Of course, that is subjective and as we always say....taste before deciding.(REF)

Ripening Time (Location dependent)

-- I would term the 'regular season' as typically beginning in March for the earliest stuff along the coastal regions(Rosigold, Rosa, Edward, etc) (REF)

-- I'll take it! This to me is definite proof that Rosigold can produce ripe/mature fruit in February, thank you mangomandan for the unexpected good news.(REF)

-- My 'Rosigold' mango has been consistently fruiting in the first few days of ..March(REF)

-- Although Rosigold is consistently the one of the earliest, if not the earliest mango maturing at my place, it is most usually a March to April event.  It can mature in February but that is not the norm.  So for all you mango season extending enthusiasts......you better get that miracle mango to start "miracling" though out the winter months.  Good luck to you.  I haven't had the benefit of the miracle as of yet.  But then again, its only been about 18 or so years, so I'll continue to be patient. (REF)

-- Here's another tree I really like -- the Rosigold. Year after year, this tree sets 2 crops, one maturing in April and the other maturing in the summer.(REF)

-- (More on Pickering vs. Rosigold) I'd agree with Harry that the Pickering is a better choice. The pickering is an incredible tree. It's a jawdropping sight to see an older pickering with 1000's of bb-sized fruits. However, having fruits in April (a characteristic of the rosigold) is quite awesome. (REF)

Flavor / Color / Tasting Notes

-- I've eaten a couple Rosigolds this month. The first, very ripe, was just sweet enough to justify eating the whole fruit.

The second, just barely ripe, did taste pretty good, nice blend of sweet and tart.   Maybe not quite as "mangoey" as I'd prefer.(REF)

-- Then was a first season Rosigold. Nice strong flavor (we have had almost no rain on the east coast of florida this summer), but a little disappointing. I did not think it was very sweet. Maybe the ones later will be better.(REF)

--  I have only tried one early rosigold, and found it good, but not great--kinda rubbery and not complex. (REF)

-- During June or July your right Rosigold would be just a decent mango, nothing to write home about...But in April, its an excellent mango thats far better then anything else available. I had my first one of the season yesterday and it was outstanding. It certainly gets bonus points for fruiting in April when its the only mango.  (REF)