Lychee

The lychee is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of China, now cultivated worldwide in warm climates. It belongs to the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. The plant features attractive evergreen foliage with pinnate leaves, small greenish-white flowers, and distinctive rough-textured, pinkish-red leathery rinds enclosing translucent, sweet, and fragrant edible flesh. Lychee trees require a distinct subtropical climate with cool, dry winters to trigger flowering, followed by hot, humid summers for fruit development. They flourish in rich, well-draining soils with consistent moisture and protection from strong winds.