Lychee (Hill)
Lychee (Litchi chinensis)
This Hill variety is grown from seeds of a heavily fruiting mother plant in Northland. The plant is 4 years old.
The Hill variety originated from Australia, it has large and sweet tasting and juicy fruit.
Native to South East Asia, the golf ball-sized tropical fruit looks similar to a strawberry. Its bumpy skin covers a translucent white flesh that’s a good source of Vitamin B, Vitamin C and potassium.
The lychee fruit has a sweet, aromatic taste to it. Some people say it tastes like a grape with a hint of rose, while others claim it tastes more like a pear or watermelon. The combination of sweet and tart means the lychee pairs well with other tropical flavours.
Disclaimer:
Although some seed grown plants are not true to type, they will still provide you with a delicious tasting fruit in years to come.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers slightly acidic, well-draining soil rich in organic matter.
- Watering: Requires consistent moisture, especially during the growing season. Avoid waterlogging.
- Temperature: Best in warm, humid climates between 20°C and 35°C. Frost-sensitive.
- Light: Full sun to produce the best fruit.
- Fertilising: Apply a balanced NPK fertilizer like 10-10-10 every two months during the active growth period. Increase potassium during the fruiting period to enhance fruit quality.
- Pruning: Prune annually after harvest to maintain shape and remove dead branches.
- Mulching: Mulch around the base to maintain soil moisture and reduce temperature fluctuations.
- Pest Control: Monitor for fruit flies, borers, and mites. Implement appropriate pest control strategies.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Flowers are produced on new wood; fruit ripens in late spring or early summer.
- Potting: Can be grown in large pots with adequate drainage. Requires careful management of watering and feeding.
- Feeding Regime: Lychee trees benefit from regular applications of fertilizer to support their growth and fruit production. Apply a balanced NPK fertilizer such as 10-10-10 every two months during the active growing season. As the tree approaches the flowering stage, switch to a fertilizer that is higher in potassium and lower in nitrogen to encourage fruit set and improve fruit quality. Additionally, lychees may require micro-nutrients, particularly magnesium and zinc, which are crucial for preventing deficiencies that can affect tree health and fruit development. These can be applied as foliar sprays or added to the soil based on soil test results.
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: $45
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.
