Litchi chinensis

Litchi chinensis is a medium-sized evergreen tropical tree native to Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines, but is cultivated in many countries with a warm climate.

It grows to a height of 9 meters.

Leaves are pinnate, composed of 2-4 pairs of lanceolate and entire leaflets.

Flowers are small, yellow-greenish, in large, terminal panicles.

Fruits are oblong, spherical or slightly conical, gathered in clusters. They resemble raspberries or strawberries in appearance. The brown-red skin is thin, hardened and brittle, covered with conical outgrowths. When the fruit is ripe, the shell can be easily separated from the pulp. The pulp is dense, gelatinous, similar in taste and structure to the pulp of grapes.

Litchi chinensis requires an acidic, moderately moist substrate, prefers a sunny position.