O-15 / Zill O-15

Zill O-15 — usually known simply as O-15 — is known for its bold, unmistakable flavour that places it firmly in the Indian/West Indian, resinous camp. It is one of the more intriguing and singular selections to come out of the celebrated breeding programme of Gary Zill in Boynton Beach, Florida, USA. It grew from a seedling of the variety 'Jakarta' and, like many of Zill's trees, is still known by its original grid designation rather than a proper name — one of a number of promising but "yet-to-be-named" mangoes carried forward for evaluation. 

The Zill O-15 mangoes are medium in size and neatly ovate in shape, ripening to a clean yellow with an attractive red blush. Inside, the pulp is yellow, juicy yet firm and fibreless. It is the flavour and aroma that make O-15 unforgettable. It is intensely, almost dramatically aromatic: strongly resinous and "piney" like pineapple, packed with spice notes. Beneath that bold, resinous top note sits a core of true mango sweetness — way sweeter than its Jakarta parent — threaded with hints of lemon and coconut. It is very much a variety for the adventurous palate and for those who love a big, spicy, resinous mango.

O-15 is an early-season mango with a short, concentrated season: in West Bengal, it typically starts ripening in the last week of May and ends in the first week of June. In Florida it typically ripens across May and June — often essentially just June. At Amrakunja Nursery & Farms, the O-15 trees have been very productive - flowering and setting fruit well.

O-15 seeds are polyembryonic and medium in size. However, O-15 plants are propagated by grafting, which keeps the variety true to type and brings young trees into bearing far sooner than a seedling would. 

Though O-15 tree is vigorous with a spreading, dense canopy, it can be kept to a garden-friendly 7-10 feet with regular pruning. O-15 can be planted in rooftop garden, kitchen garden, small orchard and large farms. O-15 rewards the grower with one of the most distinctive and talked-about flavours in the entire Florida mango world — a true collector's variety for those who prize character above all.

ColourAttractive combination of Red, Yellow and GreenAverage Weight350 gramsSweetnessTSS 24 BrixShelf LifeModerate — approximately 1 weekSeed TypePolyembryonic, often aborted — propagation by grafting onlyBearingRegular and very heavy bearer in India