Durio zibethinus

Durian (Durio zibethinus; also durian; king of fruits) is a Malvaceae fruit plant grown for its capsule. This page treats the accepted species name as canonical and uses the common name as a navigational alias.

Durio zibethinus fruit, flower, or plant habit. Wikimedia Commons file page.
Durian (Durio zibethinus )
Scientific name	Durio zibethinus
Genus	Durio
Family	Malvaceae
Order	Malvales
Fruit type	Capsule
Growth form	Large evergreen tree
Climate and hardiness	Humid tropical tree
Mature height	20–40 m in forest; smaller under cultivation
Mature width	10–25 m
Soil	Deep, fertile, well-drained soil with high organic matter; shallow water tables are damaging
Water	High and steady water demand; drought during flowering or fruit fill reduces yield
Sun	Full sun with shelter from strong winds
Germination	3–8 days from fresh seed; recalcitrant
Years to fruit	4–8 years grafted; much longer from seed
Pollination	Flowers are commonly pollinated by bats and insects; cross-pollination between compatible trees is important
Harvest	Often seasonal, commonly after a pronounced wet/dry rhythm; cultivar and region dependent

Identification and description

Durian is a large Southeast Asian tree whose spiny capsules contain creamy arils with a powerful aroma. Cultivated clones differ in flavor, texture, season, tree architecture, and tolerance of local conditions.

The accepted genus, family, and order are Durio, Malvaceae, and Malvales. Common names may cover related taxa; check the scientific name before transferring cultivation advice.

Growing

Durian is a lowland Southeast Asian rainforest tree adapted to high heat, high humidity, and deep, continuously moist but aerated soils. It dislikes prolonged drought, flooding, and cool conditions.

Durian is a lowland and foothill rainforest crop that dislikes cold, drought, salt, and root disturbance. Young trees need shelter and excellent drainage, while mature trees require enough soil volume to support a large canopy. Do not confuse high rainfall with tolerance of standing water; aeration remains essential.

Soil

Deep, fertile, well-drained soil with high organic matter; shallow water tables are damaging.

Sun and humidity

Full sun with shelter from strong winds. Native habitat and airflow matter as much as light intensity; avoid enclosing humid foliage without ventilation.

Seasonal changes

In many native regions a drier interval helps initiate flowering, followed by rain that supports fruit development. Excess rain during bloom can interfere with pollination, while drought during fruit fill causes drop and poor aril development. Crops may be strongly seasonal outside equatorial zones.

Propagation

Named cultivars are grafted or budded onto suitable seedling rootstocks. Fresh seed germinates quickly but must be sown immediately and produces variable offspring. Grafted trees are the practical route to known fruit quality and earlier production.

Field view or fruit detail of Durio zibethinus. Wikimedia Commons file page.

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

Often seasonal, commonly after a pronounced wet/dry rhythm; cultivar and region dependent. Flowering and ripening are strongly affected by latitude, cultivar, rootstock, rainfall, and temperature; local records are more useful than a single universal calendar.

Fruit and uses

The ripe arils are eaten fresh, frozen, or processed into ice cream, sweets, pastries, sauces, and fermented products. Seeds are cooked in some cuisines. The strong aroma is a defining feature, not a defect, but acceptance varies widely.

Commentary

Growers are invited to share observations about Durian on the talk page, especially climate, provenance, propagation method, plant age, flowering season, and fruit quality.

Photos

The images above show documented fruit, flower, or plant-habit views. See the individual Commons file pages in the image credits for authorship and license details.

Sources

• Useful Tropical Plants: Durio zibethinus
• FAO Ecocrop: Durian

Image credits

• Durian Jarian (Durio zibethinus).JPG — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.
• A durian (Durio zibethinus); an entire and sectioned fruit. Wellcome V0044772.jpg — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.