Collection: Lychee Trees

Looking for a lychee tree that actually fruits in your backyard? At Everglades Farm we sell premium air-layered lychee trees (Litchi chinensis) bred for home growers across Florida, Texas, and the subtropical U.S. Air layering means our trees keep the exact flavor of their parent and can produce sweet, rose-scented fruit in just 2–5 years instead of a decade. Browse proven varieties below — from the giant Emperor to cold-tolerant Brewster — and pick the lychee tree that fits your yard or patio container.

Why Grow a Lychee Tree at Home?

Native to southern China and Southeast Asia, the lychee tree produces clusters of round, pink-red fruit with juicy, translucent white flesh and a flavor often described as grape crossed with rose. Beyond the taste, lychees are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and a mature tree turns into a stunning evergreen centerpiece in any subtropical landscape. For Florida and Texas growers, few backyard fruits deliver this much reward.

Every lychee tree we sell is propagated by air layering, not grown from seed. That preserves the parent tree's exact flavor and fruit quality, builds a strong root ball that resists root rot, and gets you to harvest years sooner. Prefer that method across your whole orchard? Explore our full range of grafted & air-layered fruit trees.

How to Choose the Right Lychee Tree

The best variety depends on your climate, your space, and how you plan to grow. Use this quick guide before you buy.

By Climate & Cold Tolerance

• Cooler or marginal zones: The Brewster Lychee Tree is the Florida favorite for cold tolerance and heavy production. If late frosts are a concern, pair it with picks from our cold-hardy fruit trees collection.
• Reliable all-rounder: The Mauritius Lychee Tree is a consistent producer with sweet, pink-red fruit that performs well across most subtropical yards.

By Space — Yard or Container

• Small yards & patios: The dwarf-habit Emperor Lychee Tree grows slowly and stays compact while producing the largest lychee fruit of all — ideal for containers.
• Full-size in-ground trees: Give a mature tree room to reach its full canopy. Browsing for big specimens? See our large trees for containers.

By Flavor

• Beginner-friendly sweetness: The dependable SweetHeart Lychee Tree offers large fruit and excellent sweet taste — a great first lychee.
• For connoisseurs: The Hakip Lychee Tree is prized for its rich, floral flavor and high flesh-to-seed ratio, while the Gee Kee Lychee Tree is a less common, high-quality pick for collectors.

Lychee Tree Growing & Care Guide

In the right climate, a lychee tree is rewarding and low-fuss. It thrives on hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters without hard freezes.

• Hardiness zones: In-ground best in USDA Zones 9–11; grow in containers (Zones 4–11) and move indoors before winter.
• Sunlight: Full sun is essential for strong growth and flowering.
• Soil: Slightly acidic, sandy, well-draining soil with good organic matter prevents root rot.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.
• Pruning: Shape annually in winter to maintain size and encourage fruiting wood.
• Pests: Watch for root weevils and lychee erinose mite during the growing season.

Love this growing style? The lychee's close cousin the longan tree has nearly identical care, and you'll find dozens more easy subtropical picks in our tropical trees and exotic fruit trees collections.

What Growers Are Saying

Our lychee trees carry hundreds of verified customer reviews. The SweetHeart averages 4.56 stars across 90 reviews and the Brewster 4.47 stars across 17 reviews — here's what real buyers reported after their trees arrived.

“I was really impressed with this lychee tree. It arrived healthy, full, and much more established than I expected, with a thick trunk, strong branching, and plenty of fresh new growth.”

★★★★★ Verified buyer — SweetHeart Lychee Tree, April 2026

“This order exceeded my expectations. The quality of the tree is amazing and the packing was incredible. Very fast shipping as well. Thank you Everglades!”

★★★★★ Verified buyer — Mauritius Lychee Tree, April 2026

“My lychee tree arrived in perfect condition and has adapted to my garden wonderfully. Can't wait to watch this baby grow.”

★★★★★ Verified buyer — Emperor Lychee Tree, September 2025

“The tree was a very decent size and seemed to handle the shipping well. I have planted it and it is growing well so far.”

★★★★★ Verified buyer — Brewster Lychee Tree, April 2026

“Arrived fast and healthy. Can't go wrong with Everglades Farm.”

★★★★★ Verified buyer — Hakip Lychee Tree, March 2026

You can read every review — including detailed grower notes on shipping, establishment, and first-season growth — on each individual variety's product page above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a lychee tree take to bear fruit?

Our air-layered lychee trees typically fruit in 2–5 years, far faster than seed-grown trees, which can take a decade or more. Consistent full sun and proper care speed things along.

Can you grow a lychee tree in a container?

Yes. Compact varieties like the Emperor and SweetHeart do well in large pots, stay smaller, and can be moved indoors to protect from cold or wind in cooler climates.

Is a lychee tree easy to grow?

In Zones 9–11 it's straightforward: give it full sun, slightly acidic well-draining soil, and steady moisture. The main requirements are avoiding hard freezes and preventing soggy roots.

Why buy an air-layered lychee tree instead of a seedling?

Air-layered trees are clones of a proven parent, so you get the exact flavor and reliable fruiting years sooner, plus a stronger, rot-resistant root system.

Which lychee variety is best for beginners?

The SweetHeart and Brewster are the most forgiving and dependable choices for first-time growers in Florida and Texas.