Eetbare tuin-edible garden Litchi chinensis - Lychee - Litchi

• Article number: LICHI01

Litchi chinensis is a tropical tree that grows up to 30 metres in it's natural habitat. This habitat is as the name suggests in China. The plant is however spread trough the entire tropical zone and is grown especially in Africa and Asia. This happens usually due to the production of it's fruit. The well known Lychee is very recognizable because of it's red bubbly skin.

The fruit itself hangs in clusters of sometimes up to 30 pieces together. These fruits come to live after pollination of the flowers. The flowers appear around June and also grow in large clusters of up to 70 cm in length. The fruits are red, bubbled and break easily by applying pressure with a finger or a fingernail. The pulp underneath is white in colour and feels quite firm. The taste of the Lychee is sweet with a hint of spices. Anyone who has been on a vacation towards south-east Asia will clearly remember the taste of this popular fruit.

The tree itself is not winter resistant and will have to stay in a warmed place during the colder months. In the summer the plant can be placed outside.

The plant can best overwinter in a light place at a temperature somewhere between +8ºC and +18ºC.
Winter hardiness zone 11 (8ºC).