Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with this exquisite longan live plant. Known for its succulent, sweet fruit, the longan (Dimocarpus longan) is a cherished tropical tree, often referred to as ‘dragon’s eye’ due to the fruit’s translucent flesh and dark seed. This particular specimen is an air-layered tree, a propagation method that ensures it will bear fruit sooner and retain the desirable characteristics of the parent plant. Standing at a robust 2 feet tall and shipped securely in a 3-gallon pot, this plant is well-established and ready to thrive in its new environment. Closely related to the lychee, longans are typically hardier and grow more quickly, making them an excellent choice for gardeners looking for an exotic, productive fruit tree. Its early season heavy cropping variety promises a bountiful harvest of large, aromatic fruit, perfect for fresh eating or culinary uses.

Cultivating a longan live plant offers a unique opportunity to enjoy fresh, homegrown tropical fruit. These trees are highly valued in Southeast Asia for their delicious produce and ornamental appeal. With its vigorous growth habit and early fruiting potential, this air-layered longan provides a significant advantage over seed-grown trees. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or a passionate home gardener, adding a longan fruit tree to your collection will bring both beauty and delicious bounty to your landscape or patio.

Key Benefits

This longan live plant offers numerous advantages for the enthusiastic gardener, combining aesthetic appeal with the joy of homegrown produce. Its robust nature and early fruiting capabilities make it a truly rewarding addition:

• Delicious, Aromatic Fruit: Enjoy large, sweet, and aromatic longan fruit directly from your own tree. The flavor is often described as a delicate, honey-like sweetness with a hint of musk.
• Early Cropping Variety: This specific variety is known for its early season heavy cropping, meaning you can anticipate a generous harvest sooner than with many other fruit trees.
• Air-Layered for Quicker Fruiting: Being an air layered longan, this plant bypasses the lengthy juvenile stage of seed-grown trees, allowing it to produce fruit much earlier.
• Vigorous Growth: Longan trees are generally known for being vigorous growers, establishing themselves well and growing relatively quickly compared to their lychee relatives.
• Tropical Appeal: Add an exotic, lush touch to your garden or patio with the beautiful foliage of a tropical fruit tree.
• Nutritional Value: Longan fruit is not only delicious but also a good source of Vitamin C and other beneficial nutrients.
• Established Plant: Shipped as a 2-foot tall plant in a 3-gallon pot, it arrives with a well-developed root system, ensuring a smoother transition and stronger start in your garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential to ensure your longan live plant thrives and produces abundant fruit. Longans prefer a warm, subtropical to tropical climate. They require a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. When planting, choose a site with well-draining soil. While adaptable to various soil types, longans perform best in loamy, slightly acidic to neutral soils with good organic matter content. Ensure the planting hole is twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Gently loosen any circling roots before placing the plant.

Watering should be consistent, especially during dry periods and when the tree is young. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but avoid letting the soil become completely parched. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Once established, longan trees become more drought-tolerant. Fertilize your longan live plant regularly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer, reducing frequency in fall and winter. Young trees benefit from applications every 4-6 weeks, while mature trees can be fertilized 3-4 times a year. Pruning is generally minimal, focusing on removing dead or diseased branches and shaping the canopy for good air circulation and light penetration. Protect young trees from frost, as they are not cold-hardy. For those looking to grow longan tree successfully, monitoring for common pests like aphids and scale, and addressing them promptly, will contribute to a healthy, productive tree.

Size & Details

This longan live plant arrives as a well-established specimen, approximately 2 feet tall from the base of the pot to the top of the foliage. It is shipped securely rooted in a sturdy 3-gallon nursery pot, providing ample space for its root system and ensuring a healthy transition to your garden or larger container. The plant is an air-layered variety, which means it has been propagated from a mature, fruiting tree, promoting earlier fruit production compared to trees grown from seed. Longan trees are moderate growers, typically reaching a height of 20-40 feet in ideal conditions when mature, though they can be kept smaller with regular pruning. Expect your tree to begin bearing fruit within 2-5 years from planting, depending on care and environmental factors. The trunk will be of a good size, indicating a sturdy and healthy plant, ready to put down roots and flourish.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this longan live plant get? A: This particular plant is 2 feet tall upon arrival. Mature longan trees can reach heights of 20-40 feet, but they can be managed with pruning to suit smaller spaces or container growing.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The longan live plant is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a strong root base for immediate planting or repotting into a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Longan trees are tropical plants that thrive outdoors in USDA zones 9-11. In colder climates, they can be grown in large containers and brought indoors during winter, or cultivated in a greenhouse.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Longan trees require full sun, ideally 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to produce the best fruit. In extremely hot regions, some afternoon shade can be beneficial.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While tropical, longans are generally considered easier to grow than lychees. With proper sunlight, watering, and fertilization, a beginner can successfully grow longan tree, especially an air-layered one.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your longan live plant will arrive well-rooted in its 3-gallon pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit, ensuring it reaches you in good condition.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: Since this is an air layered longan, it is expected to fruit much earlier than a seed-grown tree, typically within 2-5 years after planting, given optimal growing conditions.
• Q: What is the ideal soil type for a longan tree? A: Longan trees prefer well-draining, loamy soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root issues.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Longan trees are sensitive to frost. They thrive in USDA zones 9-11. If you live in a colder zone, you will need to provide winter protection or grow it in a container that can be moved indoors.
• Q: Can I grow a longan fruit tree in a container? A: Yes, longan fruit tree can be successfully grown in large containers, especially in regions outside their optimal hardiness zones, allowing them to be moved indoors during cold weather.