In Southern California, longan makes an attractive, heavily foliated tree reaching 15-25 feet in height and spread, yielding hundreds of fruit from summer into fall.

Longan is more cold-tolerant than lychee, exhibiting hardiness down to 22 degrees. Longan is also less water-needy, having the same irrigation requirement as a lemon tree.

Fruit. Longan (Dimocarpus longan) is related to lychee. While the peel of lychee is pinkish-red and bumpy, that of the longan is brown and smooth. In both cases, however, the interior aril, or pulp, ...