Lychee.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Tropical fruit tree

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

10 to 12 meters

Ritmo de crecimiento

Medio

Rusticidad

USDA 9 a 11

Floración

Late winter to early spring

Cuidados

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to ensure healthy fruit production. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal poor drainage or nutrient deficiencies. Provide plenty of humidity to mimic its native tropical environment.

Riego

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Abonado

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season to support fruit development.

Poda

Prune lightly after harvest to maintain shape and encourage new growth for the next season.

Trasplante

Repot young trees every few years into a slightly larger container with fresh, rich potting mix.

Suelo

Deep, well drained, acidic soil

pH del suelo

5.0 to 6.5

Temperatura

0 a 40°C

Humedad

60 a 90%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Baja

Longevidad

Perennial, can live for over 100 years.

Fragancia

Suave

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

The seeds contain hypoglycin A, which can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.

Niños

The hard, round seeds pose a significant choking hazard to small children.

Alérgenos por contacto

The rough, bumpy skin of the fruit can be irritating to sensitive skin.

Alérgenos en el aire

Pollen from the flowers may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilidad

The fruit is delicious, but the seed is inedible and should be discarded.

Cómo identificarla

• Glossy dark green pinnate leaves
• Rough textured red outer skin
• Sweet translucent white fruit flesh
• Small clusters of inconspicuous flowers

Altura

6 a 12m

Anchura

4 a 9m

Hojas

dark green, evergreen

Flores

yellowish green, 0,5 a 1cm

Frutos

red, pink, Late spring to summer

Problemas frecuentes

• Lychee erinose mite — Causes velvety galls on the undersides of leaves.
• Anthracnose — Fungal infection causing dark spots on fruit and leaves.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

air layering, seed, grafting

Cuándo plantar

spring, early autumn

Cuidados en invierno

Protect young trees from frost with covers. Mature trees can handle light chill but need protection from freezing temperatures.

En maceta

Dwarf varieties can grow in large containers, but they generally prefer being planted in the ground.

Planting nitrogen fixing ground covers nearby helps support the high nutrient needs of the tree.

Buenas compañeras

• Mango — They share similar climate and soil requirements.
• Papaya — It provides light shade for young lychee trees.

Especies parecidas

• Longan — It is a close relative with similar growth habits and fruit structure.
• Rambutan — It is another tropical fruit tree in the same family.

Ciencia

Familia

Sapindaceae

Género

Litchi

Orden

Sapindales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Southern China and Southeast Asia.

Conservación

Not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in humid, subtropical environments with distinct seasonal temperature changes to trigger flowering.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, escarabajos

Usos

culinary fruit, ornamental shade tree, dried fruit

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Do I need two trees to get fruit?

No, lychee trees are self fertile.

How long until a tree bears fruit?

Grafted trees usually fruit in 3 to 5 years, while seedlings take much longer.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name comes from the Chinese word 'li-chi', while the scientific name 'chinensis' refers to its origin in China.

Bueno saberlo

• Lychees have been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years.
• The fruit is technically a drupe with a translucent, juicy aril.
• They are a symbol of romance and love in many Asian cultures.
• A single tree can produce hundreds of pounds of fruit in a good year.