Dimocarpus longan - Longan

Had to google this one, Andy. Very attractive shaped leaves, liking the colour too. The fruit look interesting too when I googled. Says similar to the lychee.

Kate123, I can easily eat a lb of longan fruit a day. Longan fruit is so, so delicious and sweet.

It does taste very similar to lychee. Longan is an easier tree to grow than temperamental lychee. LOL. Lychee is a very highly ornamental tree. Lychee has been grown in San Diego for about 140 years which is longer than longan, though.

I, too, looked it up as I'd never heard of it before. Sounds like a really interesting tree! Hope you get to eat some of its fruit! Does it start to produce fruit while it is still very young - like apple trees?

Apparently they are long lived trees (though there isn't a record of how long a tree can live). Lychee trees have been documented as reaching 1,000 years! It the Longan lives as long then the great grandchildren of your great grandchildren will still be able to enjoy the fruit! 👍😃

I don't think I've ever tasted one. I've seen it growing at the exotic fruit garden in Fremont' Quarry lakes area.
I kind of wish I had tried Star Fruit also. Not a big plant helps.
I still might go for a Cherimoya. I had one in the 80's giving fruit until the 1992 freeze killed it. If you see them for sale here,its $9 for one single fruit!

Balcony,

I think seedlings can take 5 to 7 years to produce fruit. It’s usually grafted or air-layered. My tree is a grafted Kohala variety.

It’s a very long-lived tree like the lychee tree. Longan grows a little fasterthan lychee, though.

Stan,

Cherimoya, Star Fruit are easy to grow in the SF Bay Area. Lychee and longan will easily grow there, also. For tropical trees they do have some chilling requirements, although very little. I think 30 to 50 hrs. Mature trees can tolerate very brief temps down to 22 to 25 degrees F. Although, prefer temps to stay above freezing.

I’d love to try a Rambutan tree, but even here in San Diego’s mild subtropical climate it’s a challenge. I’ve heard it can be grown here, though.