Matthew Nadu
Top 5 Mango Varieties for Florida Food Forests – Best Picks for Sarasota, Naples, and Beyond
"And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit... and God saw that it was good." — Genesis 1:12
In South Florida, edible gardening isn’t about chasing tomatoes or peppers through unpredictable seasons. Sure, we have a short veggie window, but real abundance—lasting, fruitful abundance—comes from trees. And no tree stands taller, heals deeper, or tastes better than the mango.
Mangoes are Florida’s redemption fruit. They thrive where other plants fail. While the northern grower may cling to their seasonal harvests, we in Florida are called to steward something more permanent. The mango is that promise. A tree that offers not only shade and beauty, but also sustenance, healing, and legacy. It's also a favorite in our household. Even on their worst days, throw one of my teenage sons a mango and watch their eyes light up and suddenly become a connoisseur on flavor profiles.
When you grow mango in your yard, you're not just planting food—you're planting dominion, flavor, and generational fruit. And it's no accident.
Why Mangos Are a Must for Every Florida Food Forest:
- Resilient: Mango trees handle Florida's heat, humidity, and even periods of drought.
- Healing: Rich in vitamins A & C, polyphenols, and gut-friendly enzymes.
- Sacred Design: These trees produce abundantly and require to no pesticides. They're part of God’s blueprint for food security.
As it is written in
Psalm 1:3, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season... and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Top 5 Mango Varieties for Your Florida Food Forest
Whether you're designing a tight urban edible landscape or stewarding an acre of Eden, here are 5 top-tier cultivars we plant regularly at Bring Back Eden:
1. Angie
- Height: 10–12 ft (dwarf/semi-dwarf)
- Flavor: Classic, rich mango with sweet citrus overtones
- Why We Love It: Disease-resistant and condo-sized—perfect for smaller backyards or hedges.
2. Cogshall
- Height: 12–15 ft
- Flavor: Smooth, fiberless flesh with a sweet tropical taste
- Why We Love It: Compact, great for pruning into a bush form, and ideal for wet zones.
3. Pickering
- Height: 6–10 ft
- Flavor: Coconut-mango hybrid flavor, ultra sweet
- Why We Love It: Possibly the most productive dwarf variety. Excellent for pots and small spaces.
4. Nam Doc Mai
- Height: 15–20 ft
- Flavor: Extremely sweet with floral notes, classic Thai dessert mango
- Why We Love It: Elegant, consistent producer. Prized in Asian cuisine and food forest diversity.
5. Valencia Pride
- Height: 30–40 ft
- Flavor: Large fruit with a balanced, classic mango flavor
- Why We Love It: If you have space, this is your shade tree and fruit supply in one. Fast grower, beautiful canopy.
Mango Hunting Across Sarasota, Naples & South Florida
At Bring Back Eden, we don't just install trees—we hunt Florida to discover the most flavorful, disease-resistant, and climate-adapted mango varieties available. With over 300 varieties documented across the state, we source rare cultivars, local favorites, and tropical legends from nurseries, homesteads, and private collections between Sarasota, Naples, and Miami.
Each food forest design is tailored to your space, style, and nutritional goals. Whether you're on the Gulf Coast or inland, we bring the best of Eden to your backyard.
Nutrition & Healing Benefits
Mangos aren’t just sweet treats. They’re nutritional powerhouses:
- High in Vitamin C, boosting immune response
- Rich in Vitamin A for skin and eye health
- Contains enzymes that aid digestion
- Polyphenols that help combat inflammation and oxidative stress
Mangos align with the biblical model of food as medicine. They nourish the body, support healing, and grow with minimal input in the right design. Regardless of the variety, they are also absolutely delicious. Let's be honest, do you really think that humanity fell from grace from an apple or was it in fact- a mango?
Final Word: Your Mango Garden is Your Ministry
The mango isn’t just a tree. It’s a teacher. A healer. A symbol of abundance that reminds us to plant with purpose and design with legacy in mind.
Want help designing your Sarasota or Naples-area food forest with mangos at its heart? Reach out for a free discovery call at
bringbackeden.co or email us at
grow@bringbackeden.co.
Bring Back Eden is Florida’s #1 faith-first nutrional and edible landscape company, designing lush, healing Florida food forests for homeowners, homesteads, schools, and churches who want to reclaim God’s original design—abundant, beautiful, and life-giving gardens.
Dominion starts in the dirt. Plant it. Preach it. Eat it. Let there be fruit.
