Fruitopia Nursery
Semi Dwarf Lychee - Brewster
Semi Dwarf Lychee - Brewster
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Also called Chen Zi, Chen Tze, or Royal Chen Purple
The second most common and popular commercial lychee variety or cultivar in South Florida is the 'Brewster' which bears fruit somewhat reliably.
A 'Brewster' fruit is medium or large, sweet and juicy. At peak ripeness the 'Brewster is truly delicious and in taste tests against other varieties consistently outranks all of the others.
Lychees flower and fruit on a panicle which is easily identified in this photo (Fig. 2). The main cluster of lychees in the center is hanging from multiple bloom spikes emerging from the main bloom spike which grows from the end of the branch.
The only complaint people have with the 'Brewster' is that is tends to have a medium to large seed, however the fruit has commensurately more flesh, with an average of approximately 74% flesh which is higher than many varieties with small or "chicken-tongue" seeds.
As 'Brewster' fruit ripens the small raised bumps on the fruit surface gradually smooth out and the skin of the fruit turns from pinkish red to a bright purplish red. The inner skin, or endocarp, is distinctly pinkish. The fruit is ellipse shaped with flat shoulders and a round or slightly pointed tip. The 'Brewster' variety is resistant to anthracnose so the fruit doesn't have as many black spots on it that many other lychee varieties tend to have.
The 'Brewster' trees are vigorous growers with a hemispherical shape and upright, spreading habit of growth and wide crotch angles. The branches strong and grooved or ribbed. The leaves are medium green, flat and the edges are straight with an average of 6 leaves to a leaf stalk and new growth flushes are slightly reddish to light green.
The 'Brewster' lychee is a "water type" so it grows best in areas where it will get a lot of irrigation or natural rainfall. The 'Brewster' variety originated in China where it bears reliably in Fujian/Fukien along rivers and supposedly has a higher occurrence of shriveled or "chicken tongue" seeds. Don't worry about overwatering a 'Brewster' lychee because they can even survive in standing water for at least a few days or up to about two weeks maximum.
Reverend Dr. William N. Brewster, a well liked missionary in China, imported this variety to South Florida between 1903 and 1906. He chose this variety because it did well in the northern limits of the lychee growing area in China and can withstand light frosts. The variety was originally called Chen Tze or Royal Chen Purple after the Chen family, a famous and historic lychee growing family in Guangdong province, and later renamed Brewster in the United States.
The 'Brewster' is a great variety of lychee and our reigning favorite. The trees are easy to care for and the fruit is both beautiful and excellent tasting. We highly recommend the 'Brewster' variety for commercial growing or edible landscape enjoyment.
Typically, 'Brewster' lychees in the northern hemisphere are ripe during the month of June and for last several years the season has ended during the 4th of July weekend in our grove in Broward County, Florida. The season for Brewsters is a little earlier for areas south of us and a little later in area to the north of us. For example Mexico's 'Brewster' lychee season begins in April, a little earlier than us, while eastern coastal groves in Central Florida tend to still have 'Brewster' fruit into the middle of July, a little later than us. The season for Brewsters in the southern hemisphere like in Australia or Brazil is late January.
How to care for your fruit tree
How to care for your fruit tree
When you receive your fruit trees please unpackage them as soon as possible and give them some water. It is normal for some of the fruit trees to wilt slightly in transit but they will revive quickly with care. Please water your trees everyday.
Planting Instructions:
In a pot: If you are planting your fruit tree in a pot long term we recommend using a 3-50 litre pot . Use premim potting mix or rich garden soil, place a saucer under the pot and grass clippings or mulch around the tree to help the tree retain moisture. Water every 1-2 days continually.
In the ground: Dig a hole 2 times larger than the size of the pot or bag the tree is currently in. Squeeze the pot to loosen the root system before planting. Water well and add mulch or grass clipping around the tree. Water daily for the first year and then after that the tree should be able to sourse its own water through its root system, but continue to observe the tree and water if necessary.
Wait 1 month after planting before fertilising to avoid burning the roots.
Special care instructions for lychee, avocado and bananas, please see the product description for each tree.
Fertiliser: Fertilise your trees once a year in springtime following the correct instructions on the packet.
Pruning: Pruning your tree ecourages new gowth and a bushier growth habit. At the end of summer we recommend pruning the tips of the tree branches by 2-3cms or you can prune the tree to a desired shape.
If you have any care questions please give us a call and we will be happy to assist you.
Shipping
Shipping
Shipping Costs:
Brisbane and Gold Coast Metro Suburbs: Free Shipping
Other Areas QLD: Shipping costs may apply based on your location and the number of trees purchased. If there are any additional shipping fees you will be contacted after you purchase and given the option of a refund if you desire.
Other Areas: NSW, ACT, VIC and SA. $30 per order or free shipping if you buy 4 or more trees.
Please allow 7-10 business days for your order to be packed and sent.
If you find a tree you would like to purchase we recommend doing so promptly as often our stock sells out shortly after being listed and then wont be available again until our next re-stock.
Our maximum box size is 1.06m. Some trees may need to be trimmed to fit into the packaging, this does not damage the tree, it encourages the tree to grow new branches and become bushier.
You may not be sent the exact tree pictures on the website but it I’ll be very similar in size and height. All of our trees are grown outside in the sun, so they are fully accustomed to Queensland weather conditions. Due to that, the trees may have minor leaf imperfections from the sun, but the overall health of the trees is superb.
Orders are shipped by courier and usually take 1-3 business days if you are in Brisbane or the Gold Coast and other Metro areas or up to 3 weeks for other locations. Plants are packaged carefully with water in the packaging.
Please follow all care instructions for your tree/s as outlined on the website in the product description of each tree. MOST IMPORTANT IS WATERING YOUR TREE EVERYDAY (preferably in the morning).
If there are any issues when your package arrives please contact us via email at info@fruitopianursery.com.au for a promt reply.
Return policy
Return policy
At Fruitopia Nursery we love plants and we want you to love your plants too, so if there are any issues with your purchase, we’re here to help. Please carefully follow all care instructions for your new plants, paying particular attention to their watering requirements.
If you are unhappy with your purchase in anyway please contact us by email and we will do our very best to resolve the situation.
Depending on the problem we will be happy to offer a refund, partial refund or exchange at our sole discretion.
If your goods are damaged on arrival, please take a photo and contact us immediately via email so that we can follow up the matter with the delivery company.
Please do not post plants back without first contacting us via email info@fruitopianursery.com.au
