The Palmer mango is classify asMangifera indica , a specie within the Anacardiaceae family , commonly known as the cashew tree or sumac kinsperson , which also let in pistachio tree and poisonous substance ivy . The genusMangiferacomprises about 35 - 40 mintage of tropical fruiting trees , thoughM. indicais the dominant cultivated species , embrace hundreds of cultivars worldwide . Palmer is a monoembryonic variety , meaning its seed create a individual shoot , signalize it from polyembryonic type mutual in Southeast Asia . originate as a train selection rather than a furious species , it mull the diverse nurture efforts within this globally significant fruit tree .
The Palmer mango emerged in South Florida , with its original tree grown from a seed planted around 1925 on the property of Mrs. Victor Mell in Miami . For decades , its parentage was unreadable , but a 2005 pedigree analysis suggested it ’s a seedling of theHadenmango , a striking early Florida cultivar gain from Amerind line . First circularize in 1945 and officially key out in 1949 , Palmer gained mild commercial-grade traction in Florida by the mid-20th century . Though overshadow by varieties likeTommy AtkinsandKeittin with child - scale of measurement marketplace , it stay on cultivated on a circumscribed basis in Florida , as well as in regions like Africa , Australia , and India . It ’s preserved in collections like the USDA ’s germplasm secretary in Miami and the University of Florida ’s Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead , reflecting its enduring horticultural value .
Palmer mango are notably large , with some specimen strive several pounds , though they typically average 1 - 2 pounds . The yield is oblong to ellipse , with a fatheaded , politic skin that transition from green to a prominent red - purplish hue when ripe , often with a yellow undertone or blush . The flesh is a bass orange - yellow-bellied , firm yet voluptuous , with minimum fiber , encasing a single , flat , monoembryonic ejaculate . Ripening from July to former September in Florida , it ’s a late - season cultivar , extending the Mangifera indica crop windowpane . The taste is mild and aromatic , intermix sweetness with a pernicious sour , often described as less vivid than other varieties but cheerily balanced , with a quiet , velvety texture that appeal to those who prefer a less unchewable mango .
Mangifera indica ‘ Palmer ’ thrives in USDA zona 10 - 11 , where frost - destitute , tropical to subtropical conditions prevail , with temperature ideally between 70 - 95 ° F ( 21 - 35 ° 100 ) . It can tolerate abbreviated dips to 30 ° F ( -1 ° C ) , but prolonged cold below this damages or kills the tree , limiting its range in the U.S. to southern Florida , parts of coastal California , Hawaii , and Puerto Rico . In zones 9b-10 , it can be mature with trade protection ( e.g. , glasshouse or Robert Lee Frost mantle ) if started indoors and shield from wintertime shivering , though fruiting may be less reliable . It requires full Sunday ( 6 - 8 hour daily ) and well - drained , sandy loam soil ( pH 5.5 - 7.5 ) , excelling in humid environments with annual rainfall of 30 - 100 column inch or supplemental irrigation .
