Longan.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Fruit tree

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

30 to 40 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 9 à 11

Floraison

Late winter to early spring

Entretien

Keep your tree in a spot with plenty of sunshine and well draining soil. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet. Regular pruning helps maintain a manageable size and encourages better fruit production.

Arrosage

Water deeply whenever the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.

Engrais

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

Taille

Prune lightly after harvest to shape the canopy and remove any dead branches.

Rempotage

Repot young trees every couple of years if they become root bound in their containers.

Sol

Sandy loam

pH du sol

5.5 to 6.5

Température

4 à 40°C

Humidité

60 à 90%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Moyenne

Durée de vie

Perennial, typically 50 to 100 years.

Parfum

Léger

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

The plant is generally non toxic, but the seeds are not for eating.

Enfants

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

Allergènes de contact

No specific skin irritants are noted for this species.

Allergènes aéroportés

The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.

Comestibilité

The seeds contain saponins and should not be consumed.

Comment l'identifier

• Pinnately compound, glossy green leaves
• Clusters of small, yellowish white flowers
• Round, tan colored fruit with thin skin
• Translucent white flesh surrounding a dark seed

Hauteur

6 à 12m

Envergure

4 à 8m

Feuilles

dark green, evergreen

Fleurs

yellowish white, 0,5 à 0,8cm

Fruits

brown, tan, Late summer to early autumn

Problèmes courants

• Longan witch's broom — A mite transmitted pathogen causing dense, stunted growth clusters.
• Fruit borer — Larvae that tunnel into the developing fruit and cause premature drop.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed, air layering, grafting

Quand planter

spring, early summer

Hivernage

Protect from frost by covering with cloth or moving containers indoors if temperatures drop near freezing.

En pot

It can be grown in large containers while young, but eventually requires a very large pot or planting in the ground.

Planting nitrogen fixing cover crops nearby can help improve soil fertility for these heavy feeders.

Bonnes associations

• Mango — They share similar climate requirements and can be grown in the same orchard layout.
• Musa — Bananas provide light shade for young longan trees.

Espèces similaires

• Lychee — A close relative with similar growth habits and fruit structure.
• Rambutan — Another soapberry family member with similar tropical needs.

Science

Famille

Sapindaceae

Genre

Dimocarpus

Ordre

Sapindales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Southern China and Southeast Asia.

Préservation

This species is widely cultivated and not considered threatened in its native range.

It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

culinary fruit, ornamental shade tree, traditional medicine

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

How do I know when to harvest?

The skin turns from greenish to a light tan or brown and the fruit tastes sweet.

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it produces the most fruit when grown in a spot with full sun.

D'où vient le nom

The scientific name Dimocarpus comes from Greek words meaning double fruit, while longan is derived from the Chinese term for dragon eye.

Bon à savoir

• Longan is a member of the soapberry family, related to lychee and rambutan.
• The name longan comes from the Cantonese term for dragon eye.
• Dried longan is a popular ingredient in Asian soups and desserts.
• Trees can live for over a century if given proper care.