Lychee 'Fei Zi Siu'
Litchi chinensis
Other names: Imperial Concubine’s Laugh, or Smile
Tangy, sweet and juicy. A large fruit that is picked with some free mottling on the skin; available from Nov to Dec. Best eaten fresh (can be chilled), but can also be canned or processed into desserts like sorbet and jellies.
Extremely difficult to get commercial crops on a regular basis.
They 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.
Native to Southern China.
This variety has the reputation of being one of the best eating lychees, but can be an inconsistent bearer (particularly in the north of the country) so it will be interesting to discover if our coastal northern NSW climate in better suited to this tree.
Tree maintenance
Litchi chinensis
Other names: Imperial Concubine’s Laugh, or Smile
Tangy, sweet and juicy. A large fruit that is picked with some free mottling on the skin; available from Nov to Dec. Best eaten fresh (can be chilled), but can also be canned or processed into desserts like sorbet and jellies.
Extremely difficult to get commercial crops on a regular basis.
They 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.
Native to Southern China.
This variety has the reputation of being one of the best eating lychees, but can be an inconsistent bearer (particularly in the north of the country) so it will be interesting to discover if our coastal northern NSW climate in better suited to this tree.
Tree maintenance
- Prune after fruiting.
- 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.
- Mulch around the base to help to keep the soil moist, but leave a gap of 4-6 inches from the trunk.