Inga laurina
Grown from seedling
Technically, a legume, the Inga laurina is a very rare type of ice-cream bean in Australia - Inga edulis is much more often found in our part of the world.
Surrounding the inedible black seeds is a thick white juicy pulp which has the texture of cotton candy and tastes very much like vanilla ice-cream.
Generally consumed when the pods have turned into shades of yellow-brown - the flesh can be eaten straight from the pod, also used to sweeten and flavour many various foods.
The seeds are toxic when eaten raw, but quite nutritious and safe to eat when fully cooked.
The longest pod ever recorded reached 2.07 meters long.
Native to Central and South America.
Tree maintenance
Pruning - prune in late winter or early spring. This tree can withstand heavy pruning. Prune the tree so that it has an even canopy structure, with equally spaced branches on all sides. Remove crossing branches in the centre of the canopy to allow for air circulation and sunlight to the branches.
Fruiting occurs on the tips of branches, don’t cut off all the mature branches at once.
We should not need to fertilise the tree very often; however, if the tree is losing leaves and it’s not wintertime, apply an organic potassium fertiliser, like kelp meal.
Avoid using a nitrogen fertiliser, as the tree is a nitrogen-fixer on its own.
Occasional applications of compost around the base of the tree can also be beneficial.
The tree can tolerate drought, although watering during prolonged drought will be beneficial.
Grown from seedling
Technically, a legume, the Inga laurina is a very rare type of ice-cream bean in Australia - Inga edulis is much more often found in our part of the world.
Surrounding the inedible black seeds is a thick white juicy pulp which has the texture of cotton candy and tastes very much like vanilla ice-cream.
Generally consumed when the pods have turned into shades of yellow-brown - the flesh can be eaten straight from the pod, also used to sweeten and flavour many various foods.
The seeds are toxic when eaten raw, but quite nutritious and safe to eat when fully cooked.
The longest pod ever recorded reached 2.07 meters long.
Native to Central and South America.
Tree maintenance
Pruning - prune in late winter or early spring. This tree can withstand heavy pruning. Prune the tree so that it has an even canopy structure, with equally spaced branches on all sides. Remove crossing branches in the centre of the canopy to allow for air circulation and sunlight to the branches.
Fruiting occurs on the tips of branches, don’t cut off all the mature branches at once.
We should not need to fertilise the tree very often; however, if the tree is losing leaves and it’s not wintertime, apply an organic potassium fertiliser, like kelp meal.
Avoid using a nitrogen fertiliser, as the tree is a nitrogen-fixer on its own.
Occasional applications of compost around the base of the tree can also be beneficial.
The tree can tolerate drought, although watering during prolonged drought will be beneficial.