Emperor Lychee Tree

Emperor is a low-vigor, spreading lychee selection with medium-to-large red fruit and good flavor, though crops may be irregular. Lychees grow as evergreen subtropical trees, with glossy mature leaves and loose clusters of small greenish flowers. ## Fruit and growth The University of Florida IFAS cultivar table rates Emperor low in vigor, spreading in habit, medium-to-large in fruit size, red in color, good in flavor, and irregular in bearing. Lychee trees can become large in warm climates; the existing garden dimensions are retained as approximate planning values for this lower-vigor selection. ## Growing conditions Plant in full sun and well-drained, acidic soil, and avoid sites that flood. Water young trees regularly while they establish; established trees tolerate some drought, but irrigation supports growth and fruiting during dry periods. Lychees perform best with warm summers and a cool, dry, nonfreezing winter. Young trees can be injured near 28–32°F, so the former USDA Zone 4 minimum was not supported and has been cleared rather than replaced with an unverified hardiness rating. UF/IFAS reports Florida fruit season from mid-May into early July, varying by variety; local timing will differ. ## Maintenance Give the tree room for its mature canopy, prune after harvest, and remove dropped fruit as needed. [University of Florida IFAS Extension: Lychee Growing in the Florida Home Landscape](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG051).