Lychee 'Erdon Lee' at LCG, January 2025 (photo credit: Graham Bond)
Lychee 'Erdon Lee'
Litchi chinensis
Sapindaceae family
The 'Erdon Lee' Lychee is exceptionally large for a Lychee, reaching over 100g. It is also known as the Giant Fruit Lychee or the Giant Lychee. It produces the largest fruit of any Lychee currently grown in Australia. The seed is also comparatively large - but there is still plenty of flesh.
Fruit is delicious, sweet, juicy and fragrant and best eaten fresh. Fruit is generally ready for harvest from December to January. The tree at LCG produced its first crop in the summer of 2024/25, with fruit approximately 40-50g - expected to get bigger over subsequent years.
Lychees a native to southern China and were introduced into Australia in the 1870’s by Chinese gold seekers. It is a Chinese tradition to offer Lychees as a New Year good-luck charm because they are considered a symbol of romance.
Tree Maintenance
Litchi chinensis
Sapindaceae family
The 'Erdon Lee' Lychee is exceptionally large for a Lychee, reaching over 100g. It is also known as the Giant Fruit Lychee or the Giant Lychee. It produces the largest fruit of any Lychee currently grown in Australia. The seed is also comparatively large - but there is still plenty of flesh.
Fruit is delicious, sweet, juicy and fragrant and best eaten fresh. Fruit is generally ready for harvest from December to January. The tree at LCG produced its first crop in the summer of 2024/25, with fruit approximately 40-50g - expected to get bigger over subsequent years.
Lychees a native to southern China and were introduced into Australia in the 1870’s by Chinese gold seekers. It is a Chinese tradition to offer Lychees as a New Year good-luck charm because they are considered a symbol of romance.
Tree Maintenance
- Prune immediately after fruiting to maintain a harvestable height. If pruning is delayed, it will affect the following year's crop.
- Do not apply a fertiliser until completion of the trees first fruiting; fertiliser should then be a gentle slow release option to protect the roots.
- Regular watering is required. Especially when the fruit is setting - dry soil around this time will result in fruit drop. Water can be withheld during the final stage of fruit ripening to help the fruit sugars concentrate.
- Mulch around the base to help to keep the soil moist, but leave a gap of 4-6 inches from the trunk.
- Lychee trees are prone to the 'erinose mite' - microscopic invertebrates that feed on plant tissue, causing distortion and abnormal growth. If distorted leaves with a brown velvety underside are observed: Prune off affected leaves and dispose off-site. Spray three applications of sulphur 10-14 days apart as per instructions on the bottle.
Lychee 'Erdon Lee' at LCG January 2025 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Lychee 'Erdon Lee' at LCG, August 2022 (photo credit: Graham Bond)
