Dimocarpus (Euphoria) longan (photo courtesy of Rare Fruit Club WA - rarefruitclub.org.au)
Chinese Longan
Dimocarpus longan
Double grafted seedling (2 rootstocks, 1 top)
This tree is unique at Lennox Community Gardens in that it has two different rootstocks (if you look at the base closely) feeding the one top. This is somewhat experimental, the hope is that with the two rootstocks feeding the one tree it will reach fruit-bearing maturity sooner than a single seedling tree. It first flowered in summer 2024, but did not set fruit.
The Longan is closely related to the Lychee. Fruit grows in grape-like clusters on the tree. The thin shell is easy to crack open to access the pulp. It can be eaten fresh, used in desserts and sweet-and-sour foods, either fresh or dried; with ginger and a little brown sugar makes a nice warm beverage in winter. Don’t pick under-ripe fruit as it will not ripen after picking.
Tree Maintenance
Dimocarpus longan
Double grafted seedling (2 rootstocks, 1 top)
This tree is unique at Lennox Community Gardens in that it has two different rootstocks (if you look at the base closely) feeding the one top. This is somewhat experimental, the hope is that with the two rootstocks feeding the one tree it will reach fruit-bearing maturity sooner than a single seedling tree. It first flowered in summer 2024, but did not set fruit.
The Longan is closely related to the Lychee. Fruit grows in grape-like clusters on the tree. The thin shell is easy to crack open to access the pulp. It can be eaten fresh, used in desserts and sweet-and-sour foods, either fresh or dried; with ginger and a little brown sugar makes a nice warm beverage in winter. Don’t pick under-ripe fruit as it will not ripen after picking.
Tree Maintenance
- After planting, remove branches with narrow crotch angles; select 3-4 main scaffold branches to contain height and facilitate light penetration throughout the canopy - they should be maintained at 3-4m high for ease of harvesting.
- An important operation is the pruning of multi flower-bearing twigs; 3/4 of the flower spikes in the cluster being removed.
- Later, the fruit clusters are also thinned, in order to increase the size and quality of the fruits.
- Finally, after fruiting is finished, the ends of the branches that produced the fruit should be cut back at least 45cm, unless the tree is very small.
- NPK with trace elements should be given in 3-4 applications during the warmer months, with amounts increasing depending on tree size.
- Mulching is beneficial.
Chinese Longan at LCG May 2025 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Chinese Longan at LCG December 2024 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Chinese Longan at LCG August 2022 (photo credit: Graham Bond)
