Lychee Tree Mauritius

Grows into a tall tree with a grey-black bark on it's trunk and brownish red branches and produce fleshy lychee fruits which are quite fragrant and have an almost translucent white flesh surrounded with a thin, rough pink-red skin which is quite stunning.  Some say the fruits taste a little like a Muscat grape but the aroma tends to be lost if not eaten fresh.  The dark green leaves on the tree have naturally been developed to repell water with a leathery texture and are oval in shape, usually around 2" (5 cm) long and appear in pairs.  The small creamy flowers grow in clusters at the end of the branches.

Plants produced from seed can take much longer to bear fruit, hence why we offer this grafted hybrid.

Fruits are a good source of vitamin C and potassium; it is not recommended that the brown seeds are eaten.

These trees require a minimum temperature of 0°C and it is said that to increase fruiting the trees can be girdled (not something we have tried!) but not when they are young, young trees require warmer Winter temperatures (we would recommend at least 10ºC) without drafts (warm or cold) and to be kept on the drier side, once older and more established they become more hardy. Lychee likes wet, humid, warm Summers and dry cool Winters

These exotic plants are native to Guangdong and Fujian in China where it can be traced back to 1059AD however unofficial records have been seen back as far as 2000BC!

Also known as Chinese Cherry, Leechee, Lichee and Litchi.

• Self fertile.
• Require Winter frost protection (minimum of 10°-15°C).
• Reaches up to 50 feet (15 meters) tall - though can be kept at a far more namageable size in a container of about 8 feet (2.5 meters)
• Requires a sheltered position.
• Likes a full sun position.
• Like a humid environment during the Summer, where possible.
• Require a free draining sandy soil.
• Will fruit from May to July in approximately 5 -10 years.
  
  
• Culinary Uses
• To make ice-cream and yoghurt.
• Makes a nice drink.
• Can be dried or frozen.