Zill (mango)
Encyclopedia
The 'Zill' mango is a named mango cultivar that originated in south Florida.
' seed planted in 1922 by Carl King of Lake Worth, Florida
. A 2005 pedigree analysis estimated that 'Zill' may have been a cross between 'Haden' and 'Bombay
'. The tree later came into the possession of Lawrence H. Zill, a horticulturalist and nursery owner whose family name the cultivar was named after. The tree first fruited in 1930, and 'Zill' began to be propagated by Lawrence Zill in 1940. The cultivar was named and described in 1945.
Thereafter 'Zill' became heavily propagated due to its color, eating quality, and good production. It was planted commercially and widely sold as nurserystock. While it fell out of favor as a commercial mango due to poor storage characteristics, 'Zill' is now commercially grown in Africa and is still sold as a dooryard tree for home growers in Florida.
'Zill' trees are planted in the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida
, the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida
, and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
, also in Homestead.
'Zill' may be a parent of several Florida mangoes, including 'Dot
', 'Jakarta
', and 'Spirit of '76
'.
The trees are vigorous growers that develop large, spreading canopies.
History
The original tree reportedly grew from a 'HadenHaden (mango)
The Haden' mango is a named mango cultivar that became one of the most widely cultivated in the world after it was introduced in the early 20th century through south Florida. It would ultimately become the parent of many other mango cultivars later developed in Florida.- History :In 1902, Captain...
' seed planted in 1922 by Carl King of Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
. A 2005 pedigree analysis estimated that 'Zill' may have been a cross between 'Haden' and 'Bombay
Bombay (mango)
The Bombay mango is a named mango cultivar that originated in Jamaica.- History :Bombay was originally grown from a seed brought to Jamaica by immigrants from India...
'. The tree later came into the possession of Lawrence H. Zill, a horticulturalist and nursery owner whose family name the cultivar was named after. The tree first fruited in 1930, and 'Zill' began to be propagated by Lawrence Zill in 1940. The cultivar was named and described in 1945.
Thereafter 'Zill' became heavily propagated due to its color, eating quality, and good production. It was planted commercially and widely sold as nurserystock. While it fell out of favor as a commercial mango due to poor storage characteristics, 'Zill' is now commercially grown in Africa and is still sold as a dooryard tree for home growers in Florida.
'Zill' trees are planted in the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida
Homestead, Florida
Homestead is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States nestled between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area....
, and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
Fruit and Spice Park
The Fruit and Spice Park is a botanical garden in metropolitan Miami at 24801 SW 187 Avenue, located in the rural agricultural community of the Redland, Florida, United States.-Exhibits:...
, also in Homestead.
'Zill' may be a parent of several Florida mangoes, including 'Dot
Dot (mango)
The Dot' mango is a mango cultivar that originated in South Florida. The cultivar has limited to no commercial plantings but is sold as nursery stock for home use in Florida.-History:...
', 'Jakarta
Jakarta (mango)
The Jakarta' mango is a named mango cultivar that originated in south Florida.- History :The original tree was grown on the property of Lawrence Zill in Boynton Beach, FL, and was reportedly a seedling of the 'Paheri' mango...
', and 'Spirit of '76
Spirit of '76 (mango)
- History :The original tree was grown on the property of Lawrence Zill of Boynton Beach, Florida and was reportedly a seedling of the Zill cultivar that had been open cross pollinated with Haden...
'.
Description
The fruit is oval to ovate in shape , with a rounded base and rounded apex, and contains a small lateral beak. The fruit average slightly under a pound in weight at maturity. The thin skin is yellow with dark red blush covering much of it. The flesh is yellow and fiberless, with a sweet flavor and strong aroma. It contains a monoembryonic seed. 'Zill' typically ripens from May to July in Florida, though fruit have a tendency to ripen all at once during a 2 week period. Fruit production is considered good.The trees are vigorous growers that develop large, spreading canopies.