Inga edulis - Ice Cream Bean

6 Oct, 2008
3 likes

This is an exceptionally beautiful tree which produces sweet pulp in the seed pods that taste like ice cream. I have had one of these tree for 13 years. They are extremely fast growing; 6 to 10 feet a year. This tree is commonly planted around coffee plantations to shade coffee trees.

This tree has the potential to grow to almost 100 feet tall. Although, the tree in this picture is about 65 feet tall with a massive trunk and one of the largest I have ever seen in California.

Comments on this photo

Terratoonie

So there are now "coffee and cream" plantations?
Sounds good to me.
Delonix1 ~ Thanks for another interesting tree with an amazing name. :o)

6 Oct, 2008

Delonix1

You're welcome, I will post a picture of my very productive coffee tree soon. It has 3 stages of berries on it now.

7 Oct, 2008

Delonix1

My tree is not blooming...however, they look like a white powder puff.
I'll have to look through my pictures and see if I have a pic of one in bloom and with seeds pods.

12 Oct, 2008