🌱 General Information
Scientific Name: Litchi chinensis
Common Name: Seedless litchi / Seedless lychee
Family: Sapindaceae
Fruit Type: Drupe (like normal litchi)
Origin: Native to southern China and Southeast Asia
🌳 Plant Characteristics
Tree Height: 4–10 meters depending on pruning and environment
Leaves: Evergreen, compound leaves with 4–8 leaflets
Flowers: Small, greenish-white, in large terminal panicles
🍈 Fruit Characteristics
Fruit Size: Medium to large, about 3–4 cm in length
Pulp: Juicy, sweet, and aromatic
Seed: Very small or aborted (typically less than 1 cm, or missing entirely)
Skin: Rough and leathery, turns red when ripe
🔬 Varieties Known for Small/No Seeds
China No. 3
Saharanpur Seedless (India)
Emperor (with small seeds in some conditions)
Muzaffarpur Special (India) – selected for small seeds
Note: Most "seedless" lychees still have very small seeds. True seedlessness is rare and often the result of selective breeding or mutation.
🌾 Cultivation Requirements
Climate: Subtropical to tropical; prefers cool dry winters and warm, humid summers
Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic (pH 5.5–7.0), loamy soil
Watering: Regular during dry periods, especially during flowering and fruiting
Sunlight: Full sun is ideal
Propagation: Generally propagated by air-layering (marcottage); seed propagation is not suitable for seedless varieties
🕐 Time to Fruit
Starts bearing in 3–5 years when propagated vegetatively
Peak yield typically after 7–8 years
🍃 Care & Maintenance
Pruning: Light pruning to shape the canopy
Fertilizer: Organic manure + balanced NPK (especially potassium during flowering)
Pests/Diseases: Fruit borer, mites, and anthracnose can affect yield