Lychee
Sweetheart
History
A trademarked Florida cultivar with a genuinely uncertain backstory - the story is that it arrived as an unlabeled import from Australia that lost its original cultivar tag, and was simply named and trademarked "Sweetheart" without ever being matched back to a known variety.
Taste profile
Considered one of the sweetest, most aromatic lychees available, with very low tartness, a strong floral/rose character, and a notably small "chicken tongue" seed that leaves more edible flesh per fruit.
Growing habits
Vigorous and productive in warm, humid subtropical climates. Self-fertile, though a second tree can improve yields. Harvest runs early-to-mid summer (mid-May to mid-June in South Florida) - among the earliest lychee varieties to ripen.
Shipping
Does not ship well. Skin stays vividly pink for only about two days after picking and will brown in transit, though the fruit inside stays good for a week or two if handled well.