Litchi chinensis 'Emperor'

Large fruit on a compact tree makes Lychee 'Emperor' an ideal plant for home gardeners and edible landscapers. Flowers and fruits form off the branch tips with the fruit hanging in clusters of 4-8. The red, golf-ball-sized fruit is delicious eaten fresh and the aromatic white inner pulp separates easily from the seed and outer shell. For reliable fruiting, we recommend planting 'Emperor' in the ground in zones 10 or higher. In northern zones, transplant it into a 3-gallon pot or larger. 'Emperor' flowers in fall and winter and the fruit ripens in July, later than many lychees. 'Emperor' is an excellent choice for home gardeners because of its compact stature and large fruit size.