Inga Bean Plant
Inga Bean (Inga edulis)
Inga Bean is part of the family Leguminosae, nitrogen fixing plant. Nitrogen fixing bacteria form nodules on the plant roots providing the plant with nitrogen that they fix from the air. Known as the Ice Cream Bean tree.
Pods up to 1 metre long contain sweet, juicy, white pulp that has a soft cotton wool texture and tastes of vanilla ice-cream. "A delectable snack that comes in its own natural wrapper" which is loved by children. Can be eaten fresh or used as flavouring for desserts. Seeds can be cooked and eaten like a vegetable, in Mexico they roast and sell as a snack.
Plants are between 50-80cm tall.
Plant Care
- Soil: Thrives in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH ranging from slightly acidic to neutral.
- Watering: Requires consistent moisture, especially during the growing and fruiting periods. Water deeply and regularly but avoid waterlogging.
- Temperature: Prefers warm climates, ideally between 20°C to 30°C. It can tolerate brief periods of cooler temperatures but is not frost-tolerant.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can help prevent leaf scorch.
- Fertilising: Use a balanced NPK fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during the growing season every two months. Additional organic matter, like compost or manure, can be beneficial.
- Pruning: Prune to control growth and remove any damaged or diseased limbs. This helps maintain the health of the tree and encourages more fruit production.
- Mulching: Apply organic mulch around the base to help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the root system cool.
- Pest Control: Watch for common pests such as aphids and leaf miners. Use appropriate organic pesticides or introduce natural predators like ladybugs.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Produces fragrant white flowers followed by edible pods. The tree can produce fruit several times a year under optimal conditions.
- Potting: While usually grown in the ground due to its size, it can be potted in large containers with adequate drainage for smaller spaces or controlled environments.
- Feeding Regime: Supplement with a potassium-rich fertilizer during the flowering period to enhance fruit quality.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $35
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
