How to grow Lychee in Australia
A tropical tree for full sun in deep, slightly acidic, well-drained soil, sheltered from wind and frost. Keep the soil consistently moist, as it is sensitive to drying out, and mulch heavily to protect the shallow roots.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 15 litres a week, watered every 5 days
- Spacing: 1000 cm
- Time to harvest: 1095 days (about 3 years)
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to November | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to November | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to November | Marginal tropical; only select cold-hardy varieties (Bosworth3); unreliable fruiting. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Marginal. Needs long warm season (150+ days) and cool winter for flower induction. Melbourne's short warm season and unpredictable frost risk make it unreliable. |
| Adelaide & SA | Not suited | Mediterranean: unsuitable. Lychee requires subtropical warmth and winter chill; outside Mediterranean range. |
| Perth & WA | Not suited | Mediterranean: unsuitable. Lychee requires subtropical warmth and winter chill; outside Mediterranean range. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Needs a long warm season. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable. Subtropical; killed by hard frost. Try persimmon or fig instead. |
| North Queensland | September to November | Spring Sep to Nov. Lychee needs dry subtropical winter for chill; marginal in Darwin, excellent in Cairns dry tropics. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to November | Spring Sep to Nov. Lychee needs dry subtropical winter for chill; marginal in Darwin, excellent in Cairns dry tropics. |
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when the skin turns red and the fruit smells sweet, as it will not ripen after picking. Cut whole clusters from the branch with secateurs.
Storage
Fridge in a bag for up to 1 week. Freeze peeled lychees for months.