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Image of Dimocarpus longan Lour.
fruit tree coming soon...
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Dimocarpus longan Lour.
(Longan, Lungan, Dragon Eye, Cat Eye) |
Synonyms:
Nephelium longan, (Lam.) Carm., Euphoria longana Steud.)
Origin: Mayanmar, South China, Southwest India, Sri Lanka,
Indochinese peninsula
Family: Sapindaceae
Light: Full sun/part shade
Height: 30-40'
Width: 30-40'
Blooms: Brownish-yellow, terminal, 4-18" long, widely branched,
small, 5-6 sepals and petals, panicled (each panicle carries 300+
fruits), Spring
Fruit: Round, brown-skinned, about 1.5" in diameter, juicy
transparemt pulp; there is a glossy brown seed inside each fruit,
late Summer
Foliage: 1' long, green, dense, pinnately compound, leathery,
shiny, has wavy margin and bluntly-pointed tip
Water: Abundant from bloom to harvest, reduce in late Summer and
Winter
Soil: Well-drained, sandy, loamy
Fertilizer: Well-balanced 6-6-6 NPK, thrice a year -before
blooming, late Spring and before harvesting
Insects / Disease: Scales , lychee webworms and Red Alga
Uses: Specimen, landscaping
Propagation: Seeds, grafting, air layering, cuttings (provide mist
and bottom heat)
Comments: Dimocarpus longan Lour. or Longan or Lungan or Dragon Eye or
Cat Eye is a
fairly fast-growing subtropical fruit tree. This evergreen
tree is symmetrical in shape and has with a corky bark.
Plant Lungan tree during rainy season, at about 25' from other trees to
avoid competition. Mulch 1' away from trunk to retain moisture.
Remove shoot tips to promote branching. Dragon Eye fruits
are sweet and juicy when eaten fresh; they are high in potassium
and low in calories. Excess fruits can be refrigerated or frozen.
Longan fruits can be dried or canned and they are sold in Asian
grocery stores. Dried Longan fruits are popularly used in Chinese
medicine. Canned Longan makes a great dessert. This plant attracts
bees and birds expecially the Monk-parakeets and Boat-tailed crackles so
netting is required so there'll be fruits left for human consumption. Protect
Longan tree from wind and frost. Keep tree under 20' to prevent
limb breakage. Dimocarpus longan makes an excellent shade or
specimen tree in the landscaping garden.
USDA Hardiness Zones
: 9a |