Durio dulcis

Durio dulcis is a large evergreen tree native to Borneo. It belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. Local names include Merangang, Tutong, Lahong, and red durian. Its range covers parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. It grows in lowland mixed dipterocarp forest in a wet tropical climate. Records place it up to 2,625 feet [800 metres] above sea level.

Listed garden dimensions reach 98 feet [30 metres] tall and 82 feet [25 metres] wide. Other accounts report heights of 131–141 feet [40–43 metres]. The trunk can reach about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres] across. Large buttresses may rise 13 feet [4 metres] above ground. PFAF describes its growth rate as moderate. Flowers grow in short clusters along older branches. The sources give no flowering season or details of leaf shape.

The round fruit reaches about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] across. Its shell turns dark red, brown-red, or purplish red when ripe. Long, thin spines cover the shell. Ripe fruit falls from the tree without splitting open. Inside, yellow arils surround the brown seeds. This soft flesh tastes very sweet and has a creamy texture. Accounts compare its taste with caramel or pineapple cream. The fruit also has a strong smell that some find offensive. People gather wild fruit and sell it in local markets.

This tree needs a warm site with moist, well-drained soil. PFAF states that it cannot grow in shade. It lists sandy, loamy, and clay soils as suitable. It also accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Wild trees grow on sandy clay and loose clay loam. PFAF lists USDA zones 11–12, which limits outdoor use to warm climates. Its size makes it a large-tree choice for a food forest. PFAF also notes that it attracts wildlife. Growers rarely plant it because its fruiting season is short.

The pink-brown wood serves for indoor building work, furniture, and packing cases. PFAF reports no known medicinal uses. Its seed advice conflicts: it lists cooked seeds as food, but also warns that seeds are poisonous. The flesh has clear food use; seed safety remains uncertain here. Useful Tropical Plants reports a Vulnerable listing from the 2009 IUCN assessment. Farming and logging reduce and damage its forest habitat. That source also reports loss of genetic diversity. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases.