Durio zibethinus

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	Night-opening flowers; mainly moths and other nocturnal insects
Harvest	Often seasonal, commonly after a pronounced wet/dry rhythm; cultivar and region dependent

Description

Durio zibethinus in Singapore, identified on the Commons file page.

Durian is a large evergreen Southeast Asian tree with spiny capsules containing creamy arils. In forest it may reach 25 to 40 m, while cultivated trees are commonly kept smaller. Cultivated clones differ in aroma, 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.

Cultivation

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, humus-rich loam with good aeration is preferred. The species account gives a preferred pH around 5 to 6.5 and emphasizes abundant, well-distributed rainfall; high rainfall does not justify a shallow or stagnant water table.

Sun and humidity

Durian is a lowland humid-forest tree. Full sun suits established trees, while young trees may benefit from up to about 50% shade; shelter from strong wind and good ventilation are both important.

Seasonal changes

Durian needs abundant rainfall but can tolerate a short dry interval. The species account reports flowering once or twice a year, with more seasonal flowering and fruiting farther from the equator; maintain moisture during fruit development and avoid drought during bloom and fruit fill.

Propagation

Fresh seed is recalcitrant and should be sown promptly; the species account reports germination in roughly 3 to 8 days and loss of viability within about two weeks. Grafting is used for selected cultivars. Reports place first cropping at about 7 to 8 years from seed and 3 to 4 years for grafted trees, with strong regional and cultivar variation.

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.

Photos

References

• Useful Tropical Plants: Durio zibethinus
• FAO Ecocrop: Durian — legacy crop record; the live page was unavailable at the 2026-08-25 check.

Image credits

• Durian Jarian (Durio zibethinus).JPG — file page; creator and license verified there.
• A durian (Durio zibethinus); an entire and sectioned fruit. Wellcome V0044772.jpg — file page; creator and license verified there.
• Durio zibethinus 115520164.jpg — Samuel Lee, CC BY 4.0.
• Durio zibethinus 27339901.jpg — Ong Jyh Seng, CC BY-SA 4.0.