🌿 Morphology
🌞 Growing conditions
🌍 Origin and family
🌾 Uses
Warning: Despite the care taken in writing this sheet, it is essential to cross-reference sources before using or consuming any plant. When in doubt, consult a qualified professional
Permaculture uses
Durio dulcis produces edible fruit, known for its sweet, custard-like flesh. It can be used in fruit salads, desserts, or eaten raw. The seeds can also be roasted and consumed. In a permaculture system, it contributes to the forest garden structure and provides habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Permapeople description
A species of durian with reddish pulp.
Botanical description
Durio dulcis is a tree reaching up to 20-50 meters in height, characterized by its distinctive red fruit. The bark is smooth and greyish-brown. Leaves are elliptical to oblong-lanceolate, with a pointed tip. The flowers are typically creamy white and fragrant, borne on the trunk and older branches (cauliflory). The fruit is spherical to ovoid, about 15-20 cm in diameter, covered in relatively sparse, soft spines that are reddish in color. The flesh is deep red or crimson, with a sweet and creamy texture.
Companion planting
Like other durian species, Durio dulcis benefits from a diverse forest garden environment. Companion plants could include other fruit trees, nitrogen-fixing trees, and understory plants that provide shade and improve soil fertility. Specific data regarding favorable or unfavorable species companionships is limited.
Propagation methods
Propagation is primarily through seeds. Grafting may also be used to propagate desirable cultivars, but is less common. Air layering is also possible, but seed propagation is most common in the wild.
History and traditions
Traditionally, Durio dulcis has been a significant food source for indigenous communities in Borneo. It's often collected from the forest and consumed locally. Specific cultural traditions surrounding Durio dulcis are less documented compared to other durian species, but it shares a similar cultural importance as a wild-harvested food.
Usage calendar
Flowering typically occurs during the rainy season. Fruit maturation takes several months. Harvest is typically during the fruiting season, dependent on the region, but generally occurs during the drier months following the rainy season. Planting is best done at the beginning of the wet season.