Durio Species, Durian, Zibetbaum
Durio zibethinus
| Family: | Malvaceae (mal-VAY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Durio (DOO-ree-oh) (Info) |
| Species: | zibethinus (zy-beth-EE-nus) (Info) |
| Synonym: | Durio acuminatissima |
| Synonym: | Durio stercoraceus |
Category:
Edible Fruits and Nuts
Trees
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements:
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Textured
Foliage Color:
Height:
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Spacing:
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Brown/Bronze
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Lakeland, Florida
Pepeekeo, Hawaii
Gardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Positive | On Nov 18, 2017, janelp_lee from Toronto, ON (Zone 6a) wrote: Durian is a fruit that making people love it or hate it because of the ripe fruit strong smell and tasty chilled ripe flesh just like ice cream! |
| Neutral | On Dec 31, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: This tree evolved the smell to signal to orangutans, who eat the fruit and spread the seeds, that there is ripe fruit. It can be smelled (at least by orangutans) over a mile away. |
| Positive | On Nov 24, 2009, the1pony from (Pony) Lakewood, WA (Zone 8a) wrote: Smells like raw sewage, but tastes pretty good, though the strong smell tends to burn itself into the back of the throat if you dare to breathe while eating the fruit. It's definitely worth trying though, if the opportunity presents itself. |
| Positive | On Jul 6, 2009, Gangajay from Marine Parade, I love this fruit! It's quite funny reading the reactions of people who haven't grown up in Southeast Asia. To most people growing up here the smell is great, and it tastes wonderful. A bit like toffee custard, although the taste and texture will vary depending on the cultivar. Most non-SEAsians think we're lying or pulling a prank when we say that we actually like the smell, but it's true! |
| Neutral | On Mar 8, 2009, chubbydoll from Jacksonville, FL wrote: my boss is Filapino and he says that durian is the fruit that.." smells like hell but tastes like heaven". He brougth back some candy from his last visit home it is reminded me of propane. But he insists on how delcious it is. To each his own |
| Positive | On Jan 5, 2008, joegee from Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) wrote: I have yet to behold the majestic durian tree, but I have now tasted the fruit (in canned form, from a local Asian market.) I find it delicious, with only the slightest disagreeable odor. It's especially tasty chopped and mixed with yogurt, which to my nose cancels out the mildly disagreeable odor of sour milk. |
| Neutral | On Jan 2, 2007, sterhill from Atlanta, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: I ran into this fruit in Malaysia - the smell is beyond all belief. Like rotted meat that has turned to slime! Your mind can't believe anyone could EAT this! The hotels all had signs with the international circle with a line across it with a picture of a durian in the middle to indicate that no one should bring one into the hotels! People say it tastes far different than it smells but I just could not test that theory. They are so big and spiked, that growers put warning signs under the trees and many have sturdy bags tied around the bigger fruits so they won't fall prematurely - they would kill you if they hit you on the head. They are very interesting looking though. |
