Lychee

Overview

Lychee is a dense, evergreen tree with clusters of red, bumpy fruit around sweet, translucent flesh. It can be an irregular bearer: trees flower best after a cool, dry period in winter.

History

Lychee has been grown in southern China for thousands of years. The University of Hawaiʻi bred the ‘Kaimana’ variety for local conditions.

Growing on Kauaʻi

• Needs good drainage and a slightly cool, dry winter to flower; some years produce little fruit.
• Shelter from strong wind.
• Ask local growers which varieties fruit reliably near you.

Planting and propagation

• Buy air-layered or grafted trees of named varieties.
• Plant in rich, well-drained soil and mulch well.

Care and maintenance

• Avoid heavy watering and fertilizing in late fall and early winter, which can encourage leaves instead of flowers.
• Prune lightly after harvest.

Role in the guild

A long-term canopy tree for moderate sites, with pigeon pea and gliricidia for mulch while it grows.

Harvest

Pick whole clusters when the fruit turns fully red. Fruit doesn’t ripen after picking.

Uses

• Food: fresh, frozen, or dried.
• Shade: dense evergreen canopy.

Problems to watch

• Birds and rats on ripening fruit; netting helps on small trees.
• Irregular flowering in warm winters.

General guidance for Kauaʻi; conditions vary by site. Check any new plant at plantpono.org before planting.