Litchi chinensis

Lychee

Litchi chinensis is a tropical, evergreen fruit tree which bears small fleshy fruits. The outside of the fruit is pink-red, roughly textured and inedible, covering sweet flesh which is usually eaten fresh and uncooked. The tree usually reaches a maximum height of 15m and the foliage is similar to that of the Laurel. It produces flowers on a terminal inflorescence on the current seasons growth consisting of small white, yellow, or green flowers that are fragrant. Lychee trees are best suited to sub-tropical and tropical climates, but some gardeners have successfully grown lychee trees in greenhouses.

Contributed by @abbyfromthebeach

plant Features

Full sun
Occasional watering
Not Frost hardy
Rich and free draining

plant information

Common name

Lychee

Latin name

Litchi chinensis

type

Evergreen Trees or Shrubs

family

Sapindaceae

ph

6.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

Light

Full sun
Frost

Not Frost hardy

Soil

Rich and free draining
Water

Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

Best time to plant
When to harvest

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Lychee is 8.00meters x 15.00meters

8.00 M 15.00 M

Litchi chinensis

Planting in the ground

From Early Spring TO Early Spring

Litchi trees have a shallow root system and their roots need to spread out so do not plant them close to other shrubs or trees or too close to buildings. They should be planted in full sun and in a position that is fairly sheltered from strong winds that can damage new growth. It is also best to avoid underplanting them with other plants. Plant with plenty of organic mulch in a rich but well drained soil.

Planting in containers

From Early Spring TO Early Spring

If you wish to grow this tree in a container, remember that they have a shallow root system and will probably need a larger container than you would imagine. Use containers with drain holes and a good choice for a small tree would be a 3 gallon container, transplanting every year through 7 gallon, 15 gallon and eventually a 25 gallon container. Water regularly to keep the plants hydrated.

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