Lychee

One of the most revered of Chinese fruits, the lychee has been enjoyed for over two thousand years in the Orient. The majestic trees (which grow to forty feet), are densely covered with coppery evergreen leaves through which emerge clusters of brilliant-colored fruits that hang like bunches of strawberries. While the beauty of the tree has made it a favorite ornamental, fruit production is erratic. Because it bears un-predictably and slowly and is extremely vulnerable to cold, the lychee has never become a major commercial crop in the United States. China remains the largest producer today, with smaller amounts raised in Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, India, South Africa, Australia, Hawaii, Mexico, and Florida.