🌳 Litchi Plant Description
The Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a tropical and subtropical evergreen tree known for its delicious, sweet, and aromatic fruit. Native to southern China and Southeast Asia, it is now widely cultivated in India, Thailand, Vietnam, and other warm climates.

🔍 Key Characteristics:
Common Names: Litchi, Lychee, Lichi

Scientific Name: Litchi chinensis

Family: Sapindaceae

Plant Type: Fruit-bearing evergreen tree

Height: 10–30 meters (33–98 feet), depending on age and variety

Lifespan: Long-lived (over 100 years under good conditions)

🌿 Foliage:
Leaves: Dark green, glossy, pinnate (feather-like)

Leaflets: 4–8 per leaf, narrow and lance-shaped

Arrangement: Alternate

🌸 Flowers:
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring

Type: Small, greenish-white to yellow, in large panicles

Pollination: Mostly by insects (bees, flies)

🍒 Fruit:
Shape: Round to oval

Size: 2.5–4 cm diameter

Outer Skin: Rough, bumpy, pink to red when ripe; inedible

Flesh: Translucent white, juicy, sweet, and fragrant

Seed: One large, glossy brown seed inside

Harvest Season (India): May to June

🌱 Growing Conditions:
Climate: Tropical/subtropical (requires warm, humid summers and cool, dry winters)

Soil: Deep, well-drained, slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5), rich in organic matter

Sunlight: Full sun for best fruit production

Watering: Regular, especially during flowering and fruiting; avoid waterlogging

Spacing: 8–10 meters between trees

🌾 Propagation:
Common Methods: Air layering (most common), grafting, and budding

Seed propagation: Not recommended (slow and genetically variable)

🌿 Uses:
Fruit: Consumed fresh, dried (as “lychee nuts”), canned, or used in beverages and desserts

Wood: Sometimes used for furniture or firewood

Leaves & Bark: Occasionally used in traditional medicine

❗ Care Tips:
Mulch around base to retain soil moisture

Prune lightly to shape and remove dead wood

Protect young plants from frost

Needs 3–5 years to bear fruit (from layering or grafting)

Would you like help with growing lychee at home, pest control tips, or information on specific varieties (like Shahi, China, or Bombai)?