Emperor

Emperor

Litchi chinensis

2 nurseries nationwide

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About Emperor

'Emperor' is the giant of the cultivars a Florida gardener can actually buy, and the only one that can plausibly be kept in a container over the long term. It is a Chinese-origin cultivar circulated in Florida under this trade name; UF/IFAS lists it in its home-landscape table as low vigor with a spreading habit, medium-large red fruit and good flavor, recommends it for dooryard planting, and marks its commercial suitability as still under evaluation. The tree's low vigor is the real selling point - it grows slowly, holds a dense rounded canopy and carries noticeably smaller leaves than 'Brewster', 'Mauritius' or 'Sweetheart'. It is also the last cultivar to ripen in central Florida, which makes it useful for stretching a home harvest past the main season. GreenDreams and Pine Island Nursery both list it, though supply is limited and it has never been available in commercial quantities.