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.

In 1992 Richie Huang’s father planted a 4-foot longan sapling from a nursery in the frontyard of his Long Beach house. He didn’t see fruit for years. Now the tree is taller than the house and ...