'Sweetheart' is one of the most sought-after lychee varieties, known for its excellent fruit to seed ratio. Sometimes called a “chicken tongue” seed due to it’s small, flat shape.

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Latin name - Litchi chinensis

Lychee trees are one of the finest choices for a backyard grower, producing dense pentacles of pink and red fruits against a backdrop of glossy, dark green leaves. Lychees are a tropical must-have with flavors reminiscent of grape, strawberry, and citrus—and in some varieties, floral notes. The slow growth and evergreen nature makes this an easy choice. 

FACT: No one has ever been disappointed by eating a lychee.

Historically, lychees came on to the scene in China as early as 2000 BC where they were revered as tribute items during the Han dynasty. Lychees were so highly sought after that expedited couriers were employed to transport the fruits from the countryside to the imperial court. Some wild lychee trees still stand in Southern China today.

The uniqueness of the lychee tree continues! Lychees are considered a monotopic taxon, meaning that Lychee is the sole member of the Litchi genus. They’re also a member of the funnily-named soapberry family which includes longan, rambutan, guinep, Pitomba, and ackee.

Surprise!: There are THREE SUBSPECIES of lychee including Indochinese, Philippine, and Javanese. This determination was made based on a variety of plant-nerd factors like twig thickness, flower arrangement, and number of stamens.

Plant your lychee tree in a full sun location with very well-draining soil. Like avocado trees, lychees are not interested in standing water and should not be planted where water pools or stands. Lychees prefer acidic, sandy soils and require subtropical conditions (zones 10a+).

When pruning, leave lower branches intact to make for more manageable harvests. Harvest fruits in May, June, and July, with greatest production in June. Although solo trees produce fruits just fine, research suggests that multi-variety plantings increase yield.

Most common pests for lychee trees are Lychee Erinose Mite (LEM) which can decrease fruit production. A grass-free zone of about 2-5 feet around your lychee tree can prevent many common pests and diseases.

Lychees are commonly propagated via air layering (creating a new rooted tree right on the original tree, then clipping off). At Incredible Edible Landscapes, our lychee trees are air layered for guaranteed varietals that bear excellent fruit.

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Size: 20’ x 50’ but can easily be pruned for manageability

Sun Requirements:  Full Sun

Cold Hardy: Not cold-tolerant; Zones 10a+

Harvest Season: May through July, with peak in June  

Watering requirements: Water established trees deeply once per week; withhold watering just before flowering to increase production, then increase again as fruit sets.