Litchi chinensis 'Brewster'
fruitBrewster is the classic Florida lychee, a vigorous subtropical evergreen prized for its showy clusters of rosy, bumpy-skinned fruit. Peel the leathery shell and the translucent white flesh inside is juicy and sweet with a floral, grape-like perfume, wrapped around a single brown seed. Brewster is notably more resistant to the anthracnose that disfigures the fruit of some other lychees, though like all lychees it can bear unevenly from year to year. The tree itself is dense, rounded, and handsome with glossy leaves and coppery new growth, making a fine shade and specimen tree where winters are cool but frost-free.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~4 yrs
to first harvest
Difficulty
medium
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
25-30 ft apart
Planting Depth
Top of the root ball level with or slightly above the soil
Soil pH
5.0-5.5
Soil Type
Acidic sand, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9 – 12
When to Fertilize
Every 8 weeks when young; spring through summer only on mature trees
Fertilizer
Complete fertilizer with magnesium and minor elements; no fall nitrogen
Lychee needs a subtropical climate with a cool, dry, frost-free winter to flower well - it will not bloom reliably in the deep, always-warm tropics. Young trees are damaged at 28 to 32F and large trees suffer below 24 to 25F, so it suits coastal and southern zones 9b to 11. Plant in full sun, 25 to 30 ft from buildings and other trees, in well-drained acidic sand with moderate organic matter; it resents wet feet and high pH. Water regularly while establishing, then ease off - withholding irrigation in fall and early winter helps trigger bloom. Feed young trees a complete fertilizer (about 6-8 percent N, with phosphorus, potash, and magnesium) every eight weeks; on mature trees stop nitrogen from August into late winter so the tree sets flowers instead of leaves. Mulch the shallow roots and protect young trees from cold their first few winters.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Jul 24 · Year 5
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
A serious pest that causes velvety leaf galls - inspect new flushes, prune out and destroy affected growth, and treat with sulfur or horticultural oil; start with clean nursery stock
Caterpillars web flowers and shoots - prune out nests, encourage natural enemies, and use Bt during bloom flushes
Plumose and other scales cause stem dieback - treat with horticultural oil and prune heavily infested wood
A fruit fungus worse in wet weather - grow resistant Brewster, prune for airflow, and remove mummified fruit
Air-layered or grafted lychees begin bearing in about 3 to 5 years, with fruit ripening from mid-May to early July. Lychees ripen only on the tree, so wait until the skin is fully red and the fruit is plump and slightly soft, then taste-test before stripping a cluster. Harvest by snipping the whole fruit-bearing stem a few inches behind the cluster. Eat fresh within days, refrigerate for up to a week or two, or peel and freeze the flesh.
About 66 calories per 100 g with 1.3 g fiber, a high 71 mg vitamin C, 171 mg potassium, and copper and B vitamins. Lychees are juicy and low in fat, eaten fresh out of hand, added to fruit salads and drinks, or frozen for a cool treat.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.
Year 2
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Year 4
Year 5