Rambutan

Overview

Rambutan bears clusters of bright red or yellow fruit covered in soft, hair-like spines, with sweet, juicy white flesh similar to lychee.

History

Native to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Growing on Kauaʻi

• Needs warm, humid, wet lowland conditions and shelter from wind.
• Requires deep, rich, well-drained soil.

Planting and propagation

• Grafted trees are recommended; seedlings may not fruit well.
• Plant in a sheltered spot and mulch heavily.

Care and maintenance

• Water during any dry spell.
• Prune after harvest to keep fruit reachable.

Role in the guild

A canopy fruit tree for warm, wet-side guilds, with banana for shelter.

Harvest

Pick whole clusters when the fruit is fully colored. It doesn’t ripen after picking.

Uses

• Food: fresh flesh.

Problems to watch

• Birds, bats, and rats on ripe fruit.
• Fruit flies.

General guidance for Kauaʻi; conditions vary by site. Check any new plant at plantpono.org before planting.