Do you know what varieties of late-maturing lychees there are?

　　Right now, summer is the peak season for lychees. Early‑ripening varieties hit the market as early as March and April, though their prices tend to be relatively high. By June, when late‑ripening lychees come into full production, market prices generally stabilize. Varieties like “Feizixiao” have seen a sharp price drop compared with earlier in the season, giving consumers greater flexibility to enjoy lychees. So, do you know which late‑ripening lychee varieties are available? Let’s take a look.

　　1. Hainan Seedless Lychee

　　Hainan seedless lychee is a newly developed variety successfully bred through countless rounds of selection and propagation from 37 superior, rare mother trees native to Hainan. It features tiny or absent seeds, crystal‑clear flesh that resembles solidified cream, a crisp, refreshing, and richly fragrant flavor, and high nutritional value, making it a premium choice among lychees. The fruit typically ripens from mid‑ to late June through early July.

　　2. Glutinous Rice Cake with Lychee

　　Nuo Mi Ci lychees typically come to market from late June to early July. This variety features heart-shaped fruits that are relatively large, with a vibrant red exterior tinged with a waxy yellow hue. The flesh is milky white and translucent, offering a tender, smooth texture, while the seed is exceptionally small. However, it boasts a very high sugar content.

　　3. Goose Egg Lychee

　　Egg‑shaped lychee is one of Hainan Island’s renowned large‑fruited lychee varieties, primarily cultivated in Qiongshan and other areas, with a long history of cultivation. It is so named because of its exceptionally large fruit; its flesh is pale yellow‑white, crisp and tender, with a clean, sweet yet slightly mild flavor that is highly favored by consumers.

　　4. Large Clove Lychee

　　Dadingxiang is a late-maturing, large-fruit-type lychee variety. Its fruit skin is red, and the flesh is milky white; the texture is tender and crisp, with a refreshing sweetness and a fragrant aroma.

　　5. Lingfeng Glutinous Lychee

　　Lingfeng Nuolizi is a late‑ripening lychee variety. Its fruit resembles Nuomici in appearance and matures 7–10 days later. It exhibits a kernel‑to‑fruit ratio exceeding 90%, with an average single‑fruit weight of 21.5 grams and an edible portion of 74.5%. Currently, it is predominantly cultivated in Dongguan City.

　　6. Tuodi Lychee

　　Tuoti lychees ripen in early August and are among the most representative late‑ripening varieties of Hejiang. Because their fruit clusters hang in dense, compact bunches and yield abundantly, they are known as “Tuoti.” When fresh, they emit a heady, fragrant aroma indoors, earning them the nickname “Qingxiang Tuoti,” making them a true premium among Hejiang lychees.

　　7. Xianjin Feng Lychee

　　Xianjin Feng ripens in Zengcheng, its place of origin, in mid-to-late July, about 7–10 days later than Nuomici. The fruits are oblate‑heart‑shaped or heart‑shaped, with a prominent shoulder; the skin is bright red, resembling Nuomici, and the average single fruit weighs 25–28 g.

　　8. Ma Guili

　　Ma Guili reaches maturity around mid-August, maturing 10–15 days later than Huai Zhi. The flesh is waxy white, 1.06 cm thick, tender and smooth, with abundant juice and a relatively sweet flavor. By the third year, it bears fruit regularly, with an average yield of 5 kg per tree.

　　Overall, from June through August, numerous late‑ripening lychee varieties will continue to hit the market, so price spreads are expected to narrow further. If you held back on those earlier high‑priced lychees, now is the perfect time to indulge as prices have come down.