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.

Plant guide

Lychee.

Litchi chinensis

Pronounced LY-chee chi-NEN-sis

Also known as Lichee, Lychee, leechee, litchi

Litchi chinensis — Photo by amantedarmanin (CC BY) via gbif

The lychee is a beautiful tropical evergreen tree prized for its sweet, translucent fruit. It thrives in warm, humid climates and makes a stunning ornamental addition to a landscape. You will love watching the clusters of bright red, bumpy fruit develop in the summer.

Another photo of Lychee — Photo by joqatana (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Tropical fruit tree
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 10 to 12 meters
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring

Care

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.

Watering: Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season to support fruit development.
Pruning: Prune lightly after harvest to maintain shape and encourage new growth for the next season.
Repotting: Repot young trees every few years into a slightly larger container with fresh, rich potting mix.
Soil: Deep, well drained, acidic soil
Soil pH: 5.0 to 6.5
Temperature: 0 to 40°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for over 100 years.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth despite regular feeding

Safety

People: The seeds contain hypoglycin A, which can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Children: The hard, round seeds pose a significant choking hazard to small children.
Contact allergens: The rough, bumpy skin of the fruit can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Airborne allergens: Pollen from the flowers may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: The fruit is delicious, but the seed is inedible and should be discarded.

How to identify it

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

Height: 6 to 12m
Spread: 4 to 9m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: yellowish green, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: red, pink, Late spring to summer

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: air layering, seed, grafting
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: Protect young trees from frost with covers. Mature trees can handle light chill but need protection from freezing temperatures.
In containers: Dwarf varieties can grow in large containers, but they generally prefer being planted in the ground.

Air Layering

Select a healthy branch about 1 cm thick.
Remove a ring of bark around the branch.
Wrap the area with moist sphagnum moss and plastic.
Wait for roots to form over several months.
Cut the branch and pot it up.

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

Grows well with

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

Similar species

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

Science

Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Litchi
Order: Sapindales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern China and Southeast Asia.
Conservation: Not currently of conservation concern.

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

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: culinary fruit, ornamental shade tree, dried fruit

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

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.

Where the name comes from

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

Good to know

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.

Keep your lychee growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.