Longan trees, also known as Dimocarpus longan, are ideal for those living in less tropical areas where lychees and rambutans are enjoyed. These small to medium-sized trees have a dense canopy of bright green leaves and reddish new growth in spring and summer. To simplify fruit harvesting, consider keeping the trees smaller or thinning the canopy.
Ideal Conditions
Longan crops, growing to 6-7 meters, thrive in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as drier areas like California, South, and Western Australia. They thrive in warm, humid summers followed by cold, dry winters. Data suggests that longan crops thrive in regions with several days with minimum temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit).
Winter Care
In colder areas, create a warm microclimate for longan trees to ensure successful pollination, especially during their early years. Since longan trees outperform lychee trees in frost tolerance, provide them with proper protection in colder climates.
Soil Requirements
- Provide longan trees with a warm microclimate in colder areas for pollination, especially during their early years. Since they outperform lychee trees in frost tolerance, ensure proper protection in colder climates.
Flowering and Fruit Characteristics
The tree is self-fertile, with fragrant, creamy-yellow blooms held in panicles. It produces ripe, tiny, spherical longan fruit in mid- to late-summer clusters. Each fruit has a thin, dull-yellow shell around a translucent membrane with a black seed. It’s important to slice off the entire cluster, but avoid underripe fruit as it won’t mature after picking.
Longans are a versatile fruit variety found in various regions, including the USA, California, New Zealand, Australia, Perth, and Victoria. Varieties include Hawaii’s Kohala, Thailand’s Biew Kiew, Haew, and Chompoo, each with unique characteristics like firmer, crisper fruit, thicker skin, and pinkish-tinged fruit.
