Durian Types and Their D Numbers
Malaysia's Department of Agriculture has been collecting and registering durian clones by number since 1934. The register has now passed 200. Here is what each number means, and where the common names go wrong.
Why the number matters more than the name
Durian names are unreliable. The same fruit is sold as Tekka in one stall, Green Bamboo in the next and Musang Queen in a third. Names shift between Malay, Hokkien, Mandarin and English, and sellers invent new ones for marketing. The registration number does not move.
Malaysia's Department of Agriculture registers each durian clone with a D number, and has been building the collection since 1934. D24 Sultan was registered on 30 November 1937. Musang King was registered as D197 on 9 December 1993. Black Thorn, the newest of the premium clones, is D200. If you know the number, you know the fruit, regardless of what the sign above the stall says.
Two exceptions are worth knowing before you read the table. Some durians sold under a D number are not that clone at all, and one of the most famous names on any Singapore stall board has no number whatsoever.
The registry
10 registered clones, plus XO, which is not one. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
| Variety | Clone | Registered | Also called | Origin | Flesh | Bitterness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musang King | D197 | 1993 | Raja Kunyit, Mao Shan Wang 猫山王 | Tanah Merah, Kelantan | Yellow to golden yellow | Bittersweet |
| Black Thorn | D200 | not recorded | Duri Hitam, Ochee 黑刺 | Kampung Lima Kongsi, Penang | Bright yellow to orangey | Slightly bitter aftertaste |
| Golden Phoenix | D198 | 2013 | Kim Hong, Jin Feng 金凤 | Johor | Pale gold | Bitter with sweet notes |
| Red Prawn | D175 | not recorded | Ang Heh, Hong Xia 红虾 | Penang | Reddish orange | Tinge of bitterness |
| D24 | D24 | 1937 | Sultan, 苏丹王 | Bukit Merah, Perak | Pale yellow | Slightly bitter |
| XO | none | not recorded | no other name | Not applicable | Not separately described | Slightly bitter |
| Tekka | D160 | 1987 | Buluh Bawah, Zhu Jiao 竹脚 | Banting, Selangor | Pale yellow, sometimes darker | More bitter than Musang King |
| D13 | D226 | 2022 | Hock 13, Golden Bun 金包 | Batu 13, Pagoh, Johor | Bright to deep orange, sometimes reddish | no source |
| Hor Lor | D163 | 1987 | Hor Lor 葫芦 | Chat Fatt Hin, Balik Pulau, Penang | Pale gold | Sweet and bitter |
| D101 | D101 | 1970 | Bangkok Tree 16 | Serdang, Selangor | Yellow (true clone, per DurianPro) | no source |
| D2 | D2 | not recorded | Dato Nina | Malaysia | Yellow | no source |
Bitterness is quoted from the source that describes each variety. Where we found no source, the table says so rather than guess.
Where these facts come from
- Clone numbers and registration years: the registered durian clone list maintained by Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia, the Malaysian Department of Agriculture, which has been collecting and numbering clones since 1934. Individual registration dates here are taken from the department's own Pakej Teknologi Durian, which gives D24 as 30 November 1937 and D197 Musang King as 9 December 1993. Where a year is widely repeated online but we cannot find it in a department document, we leave it out rather than copy it.
- Origins are the locality where the mother tree was recorded, which is often not the state the fruit is now grown in. Musang King is the clearest example, explained below.
- Flavour, flesh colour and bitterness are descriptive, drawn from how each variety is consistently characterised in the trade. They are not official classifications.
- A clone number is a variety registration, not a quality mark. It identifies the genetics and says nothing about how well one particular fruit developed. Quality is a separate, separately defined system: how durian is graded.
- Where sources disagree, the entry says so rather than picking one silently. Golden Phoenix is the current example: Johor is the more commonly cited origin, Pahang also appears.
Every clone number, registration year and origin on this page was last checked on . Found something wrong? Tell us and we will check it.
Four things stalls get wrong
1. XO is not a variety
XO has no clone number because it is not a clone. It is generally described as a more fermented form of D24, which gives it the bitter, alcoholic character it is sold for. Think of it as a ripeness style, not a breed. You will sometimes see it listed as D2, but D2 is a separate registered clone called Dato Nina, with nothing to do with XO.
2. Much of the D101 you buy is D168
D101 is officially Bangkok Tree 16, registered in 1970 at Serdang, Selangor. A large share of the fruit sold as D101 in Malaysia is in fact D168, Mas Muar, registered in 1989. They are different clones. Neither is bad, but if you are paying for one you should know which you are getting. It is a fair question to ask a seller.
3. "D13" is not a registration number, and it is often sold as Red Prawn
Two things at once here. First, D13 is not a Department of Agriculture number. The name comes from Batu 13 in Pagoh, Johor, where the variety originates. It was treated as a kampung breed for years and was only formally registered in 2022, as D226, "Hock 13".
Second, and more likely to affect what you pay: D13 is the durian most commonly sold in Singapore under the name Red Prawn. The authentic Red Prawn is D175 and comes from Penang. They look similar because both have orange flesh in a football-shaped fruit. Some sellers distinguish theirs as "Singapore Red Prawn", which is a tell.
You can separate them at the stall. D175 has a brownish husk, thorns running right down to the base, and small to medium seeds. D13 has a fresher green husk, a bald patch at the base with no star seam, and noticeably large seeds. If the seeds are big, it is very unlikely to be D175.
4. Musang Queen is not Musang King's sister
Musang Queen is a trade name for Tekka, D160, registered in 1987. It is also sold as Green Bamboo and Zhu Jiao depending on the stall. It is a good durian with its own, more bitter character, which is the honest reason to buy it. It is not related to Musang King (D197) in any way, and the name similarity is marketing rather than lineage.
Where Musang King actually comes from
Almost every listing says Pahang. That is where it is grown, not where it came from. The department's registration entry records the variety as coming from Tanah Merah, Kelantan. Cuttings were taken to Raub in Pahang and cultivated there, and Raub and Bentong are now the heartland of premium Musang King. You will also see Gua Musang given as the origin, and the district name is often used to explain the "Musang" in Musang King, but that is not what the register says.
It matters when you are buying, because "Pahang Musang King" is a claim about growing conditions and altitude, not about authenticity. Old tree fruit from Raub commands a premium for real reasons. "Original Kelantan stock" as a selling line means considerably less.
Common questions
What do the D numbers in durian names mean?
They are registration numbers issued by Malaysia's Department of Agriculture. The department has been collecting and registering durian clones by number since 1934, and the register has now passed 200 varieties. D197 is Musang King, D200 is Black Thorn, D24 is Sultan. A D number identifies a specific registered clone, so it is the most reliable way to know what you are buying. Names vary by dialect and by seller; the number does not.
Is XO a durian variety?
No. XO is not a registered clone and has no D number. It is sold as a variation of D24, and its alcoholic taste is put down to fermentation inside the shell. Shops sometimes list XO as D2, but D2 is a completely different registered clone called Dato Nina. If a seller gives XO a D number, they are mistaken.
Is Musang Queen related to Musang King?
No. Musang Queen is a nickname for Tekka, registered as D160 in 1987. It is also sold as Green Bamboo and Zhu Jiao, and a published copy of the clone register lists it as Buluh Bawah. It has no botanical relationship to Musang King (D197) and the similar name is a coincidence of marketing, not lineage.
Is D13 a real durian variety?
Yes, but D13 is not its registration number. The name comes from Batu 13 in Pagoh, Johor, where the variety originates. It was treated as a kampung breed for years and was only formally registered with Malaysia's Department of Agriculture in 2022, as D226 under the name Hock 13. D13 has bright to deep orange flesh, large seeds, and a flavour described as mild and sweet, with floral vanilla notes, which makes it a good first durian. It is also the variety most often sold in Singapore as Red Prawn, which it is not: the authentic Red Prawn is D175 from Penang.
Which durian is best for a first-timer?
D24 or D13. The Department of Agriculture describes D24 (Sultan) as sweet and rich with only a slight bitterness. D13 is described as mild and sweet, with floral vanilla notes and deep orange flesh. Musang King is the most celebrated variety, but the same department describes it as bitter as well as sweet, so it is not the gentlest place to start.
Where does Musang King actually come from?
The Department of Agriculture's registration entry records the variety as coming from Tanah Merah, Kelantan. Cuttings were taken to Raub in Pahang, and Raub and Bentong are now the heartland of premium Musang King production. So Pahang is where the best fruit is grown, but Kelantan is where the variety originated. Sellers often conflate the two. You will also see Gua Musang given as the origin, very widely, but that is not what the register says.
Still deciding between two?
The head to head pages answer the question at the top and explain the working underneath.
XO vs D24
They are the same clone. Here is what actually differs.
D101 vs D24
The D101 you are sold is usually D168.
D13 vs D24
One of these is often sold as Red Prawn.
Want to taste the difference?
We stock seven of the varieties above, sold by the clone number so you know exactly what you are getting. Before you buy, it is worth knowing where the season is: the 2026 glut ended in mid July and the main season is now at its tail.