Lychee Litchi chinensis
Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Sapindaceae family, native to Southern China (Guangdong and Fujian) and northern Vietnam. It grows 5–10 m (16–33 ft) tall and 5–9 m (16–30 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 8 m (26 ft) apart.
Plan Lychee in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Lychee at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Mature height | 5–10 m (16–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–9 m (16–30 ft) |
| Spacing | 8 m (26 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about February for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: fruit aril |
| Native to | Southern China (Guangdong and Fujian) and northern Vietnam |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
Is Lychee toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: unripe fruit, seeds
Hypoglycin A in unripe fruit and seeds can cause dangerously low blood sugar, especially in undernourished children; ripe aril is safe.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Lychee
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Lychee
- How far apart should I plant Lychee?
- About 8 m (26 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–9 m (16–30 ft).
- Does Lychee need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Lychee need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Lychee?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Lychee flower?
- From about February for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Lychee poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people moderately toxic. Hypoglycin A in unripe fruit and seeds can cause dangerously low blood sugar, especially in undernourished children; ripe aril is safe.
- What grows well with Lychee?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Lychee. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- EcoCrop crop environmental requirements, FAO
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Needs a cool, dry winter spell (about 100–200 hours below 15 °C, not the 7 °C used for temperate chill) to flower; poor in constantly hot, humid sites. Young trees are frost-tender.
- Slow growing; air-layered trees fruit in 3–5 years.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Red maple Acer rubrum
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
- Sugar maple Acer saccharum
- Norway maple Acer platanoides
- Field maple Acer campestre
- Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum