Taun (Pacific lychee)
Pometia pinnata
A lychee relative of the lowland forest: sweet, jelly-like flesh inside a smooth skin.
Hardiness: zones 11 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 60 ft tall, 30 ft wide
Harvest: November to January
From: Malesia to Samoa
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: New Guinea & Melanesia, South & Southeast Asian tropics, Hawaiʻi & Pacific Islands. Hardy in zones 11 to 12.
The story
Taun, the Pacific lychee, grows wild from Malesia to Samoa. In Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands the fruit is a seasonal treat, and the timber is valued for building.
Planting
Full sun, deep moist soil, hot and humid. Grow from fresh seed.
Growing
A big lowland tree; give it room and mulch well.
Harvest and use
Clusters of round fruit with sweet, jelly-like flesh around a single seed; eat fresh.
What to watch for
A large tree. Seeds lose viability within days.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home