Brewster Lychee Tree | Sweet Tart Early Season Lychee

Brewster Lychee

5 Gallon

$199.99

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Brewster Lychee

Litchi chinensis ‘Brewster’

Classic Commercial Standard • Good Sweet-Tart Balance • Vigorous & Cold Tolerant

$199.99

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

The Brewster Lychee is a classic, time-tested workhorse and one of the most widely planted commercial varieties in the Western hemisphere. This vigorous tree produces large clusters of medium to large, dark red fruit with a good balance of sweetness and refreshing tartness. While it can exhibit a tendency for biennial bearing (heavy crop one year, light the next), its overall productivity, reliable flavor, and good cold tolerance make it a foundational and dependable choice for home orchards in subtropical climates like Florida.

A classic commercial and home garden variety known for its reliability and good flavor.
Fruit is medium to large, with dark red skin that becomes smoother as it ripens.
Flavor is a perfect, crowd-pleasing balance of sweet and tart.
A vigorous, fast-growing tree that can become quite large (20-25 ft) if unpruned.
Known for a tendency toward biennial bearing; crop thinning after a heavy bloom can help regulate production.
Shows better cold tolerance than some other varieties, making it suitable for marginal subtropical areas.

Flavor Profile:

Flavor: Well-balanced, tangy-sweet with a rich, classic lychee flavor.
Texture: Juicy and firm, though slightly less crisp than some other varieties.
Best Uses: Excellent for fresh eating and is the primary variety used for canning lychees in syrup due to its balanced flavor and good texture.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Features:Foliage: Glossy lanceolate leaves with pronounced midribs.Flowers: Fragrant yellow-green panicles (spring bloomer).Fruit: Large deep crimson drupes.Habit: Upright evergreen with symmetrical canopy
Mature Height: 15-20 ft
Mature Width: 12-15 ft
Growth Rate: Moderate
Light Needs: Full sun
Key Advantages:Classic commercial lychee flavor.Heavy, reliable producer.Attractive ornamental tree.Excellent shipping quality
Landscape Uses:Tropical fruit orchards.Shade tree for large yards.Commercial production

Q: What is biennial bearing and how do I manage it?
A: It's the tendency to produce a very heavy crop one year, followed by a very light crop the next. To mitigate this, you can aggressively thin the flower panicles or young fruit clusters in a year with an excessive bloom. This reduces stress on the tree and can promote more consistent annual bearing.

Q: Is this the "Chen Purple" or "O-Hia" lychee?
A: Yes, 'Brewster' is often sold under these synonymous names. It is the same cultivar.

Q: How does its flavor compare to 'Sweetheart'?
A: 'Brewster' is more balanced with noticeable acidity, giving it a vibrant, refreshing taste. 'Sweetheart' is intensely, purely sweet with honey notes. Both are excellent but different.