Brisbane tree guide

Lychee tree

Litchi chinensis · also called Lychee, Litchi

The lychee tree is an evergreen fruit tree from southern China, grown in south-east Queensland for its walnut-sized red fruit with sweet, juicy white flesh. It forms a low, broad canopy on a short, thick trunk, usually 6 to 12 metres tall if left unpruned, and doubles as a handsome shade tree. Most crops ripen between late November and February. Lorikeets and flying-foxes love the fruit, so netting is usually needed.

Exotic
6 to 12 m tall

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Lychee tree, from Wikimedia Commons — Photo: Barry Fitzgerald, USDA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Lychee tree at a glance

Height: 6 to 12 m
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Small and easy to miss
Origin: Southern China
Family: Sapindaceae

How to identify a lychee tree

A sizeable evergreen tree whose low, wide crown sits on a short, thick trunk. The leaves are 10 to 25 cm long and divided into two to four pairs of leaflets, glossy deep green on top and a waxy, paler green underneath. In spring, long branched sprays of tiny, fragrant flowers in green, white or yellow appear at the shoot tips. The fruit hangs in bunches: round to oval and roughly walnut-sized, with a thin, bumpy red skin around translucent white flesh and a shiny brown seed.

Growing a lychee tree in Brisbane

South-east Queensland is one of Australia's main lychee districts, with orchards on the Sunshine Coast and around Nambour. Lychees need a run of cool nights, below about 20 degrees for a week or so, before they flower well; in Department of Primary Industries trials near Nambour, flowering began in mid September for 'Tai So' and in October for later varieties. Choose a sunny spot sheltered from strong wind, with well-drained soil. 'Kwai Mai Pink' is a reliable pick for home gardens, and fruit ripens from about late November to February, depending on variety.

What to watch out for

Wildlife is the main issue. Rainbow lorikeets and flying-foxes go for ripe fruit, and a grower north of Brisbane told Gardening Australia they can strip an orchard within three days. Use only wildlife-friendly netting: the Queensland Government warns that loose or thin monofilament nets entangle and can kill flying-foxes and birds. Lychees can crop erratically, and too few cool nights before flowering leaves mostly male flowers. Erinose mite causes distorted leaves with brown patches underneath. Lychee isn't on any Brisbane or Queensland weed list.

Pruning and care

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially while the tree establishes and while fruit is developing, and go easy on fertiliser, since too much can reduce fruiting. Lychees dislike having their roots disturbed, so avoid digging close to the trunk. Prune lightly straight after harvest to hold the tree at a manageable height and encourage new growth. To protect the crop, net the tree over a frame with white, knitted netting whose holes are no bigger than 5 mm by 5 mm when stretched, and keep it taut. Never use thin monofilament netting.

Lychee tree: your questions

Short answers, from the sources below.

Back to the tree guide

When do lychees fruit in Brisbane?

Most lychee trees in south-east Queensland ripen fruit between late November and February, depending on the variety. 'Tai So' is one of the earlier varieties and 'Wai Chee' is a late one.

How long does a lychee tree take to fruit?

Marcotted or grafted trees usually give a small first crop at four or five years and reach full production at around ten years. Seedling trees can take much longer, if they fruit at all.

Do you need two lychee trees to get fruit?

No. A lychee tree carries male and female flowers in the same flower spray, so one tree can set fruit, with bees and other insects moving the pollen.

How do I stop flying-foxes eating my lychees?

Cover the tree with white, knitted netting stretched taut over a frame, with holes no bigger than 5 mm by 5 mm. The Queensland Government warns against thin monofilament netting, which traps and injures wildlife.

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Sources and credits

Photo: Barry Fitzgerald, USDA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.