Zill (mango) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mangifera 'Zill'
Zill mangoes at the Redland Summer Fruit Festival, Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, FL
Genus	Mangifera
Species	Mangifera indica
Hybrid parentage	'Haden' × 'Bombay'
Cultivar	'Zill'
Breeder	Laurence H. Zill
Origin	Florida, US

The Zill mango is a special type of mango. It is known for its sweet taste and bright colors. This popular fruit first grew in sunny Florida, in the United States. It is a favorite for many people who grow mangoes at home.

The Zill Mango: A Sweet Story

Where Did Zill Mangoes Come From?

The very first Zill mango tree started from a seed. This seed came from a mango called 'Haden'. It was planted in 1922 by a person named Carl King. He lived in Lake Worth, Florida.

Scientists later studied the Zill mango's "family tree." They think it might be a mix of the Haden mango and another mango called Bombay.

The tree later belonged to Laurence H. Zill. He was a plant expert and owned a plant nursery. The mango was named 'Zill' after his family. The tree first grew fruit in 1930. Laurence Zill started growing more Zill mango trees in 1940. The mango was officially named and described in 1945.

Why Did Zill Mangoes Become Popular?

After 1945, many Zill mango trees were grown. People loved them because of their bright color. They also tasted very good. The trees produced a lot of fruit.

Farmers used to grow Zill mangoes to sell in stores. But they found that Zill mangoes did not stay fresh for a long time. So, they stopped growing them for big stores.

However, Zill mangoes are still grown today! They are grown for sale in Africa. Also, many people in Florida still buy Zill trees. They plant them in their backyards to enjoy the fresh fruit.

Where Can You Find Zill Mango Trees?

Special collections of Zill mango trees are kept in Florida. These collections help to save different types of plants.

• One collection is at the USDA in Miami, Florida. The USDA helps farmers and keeps plant seeds safe.
• Another collection is at the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center. This center is in Homestead, Florida.
• The Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead also has Zill mango trees. This park has many different kinds of fruit trees.

The Zill mango might also be a "parent" to other Florida mangoes. This means it helped create new types of mangoes. Some of these include Dot, Jakarta, and Spirit of '76.

What Makes the Zill Mango Special?

The Look and Taste of Zill Mangoes

The Zill mango fruit is shaped like an oval. It is round at the top and bottom. It also has a small bump on one side. Each mango usually weighs a little less than one pound.

The skin of the Zill mango is thin. It is yellow with a lot of dark red color over it. The inside part, called the flesh, is yellow. It does not have many stringy fibers.

The taste is very sweet. Many people say it has a strong, sweet smell. Some even compare its smell to a pineapple! The Zill mango has one seed inside.

When Do Zill Mangoes Ripen?

In Florida, Zill mangoes usually get ripe from May to July. They tend to ripen all at once. This means you might have many ripe mangoes in just two weeks! The trees usually produce a lot of fruit.

How Zill Mango Trees Grow

Zill mango trees grow very well. They become large trees with wide, spreading branches. These branches create a big, shady canopy.