Rambutan N18 Grafted Fruit plant

Rambutan plant  is a tropical fruit tree closely related to the lychee (Litchi chinensis) and longan (Dimocarpus longan). It’s loved for its unique, hairy-skinned fruits with juicy, sweet-sour flesh. 

• Botanical Name: Nephelium lappaceum

• Family: Sapindaceae (same family as lychee & longan)

• Common Names: Rambutan, Ramboostan, Chom chom (Vietnamese), Ngoh (Thai), Nephelium (scientific)

 Appearance & Growth

• Tree: Medium-sized evergreen, typically 10–20 m tall.

• Leaves: Pinnate, with 3–9 glossy green leaflets.

• Flowers: Small, greenish-white, produced in clusters; usually unisexual (male & female trees exist, but some are hermaphroditic).

• Fruit:

  • Round to oval, 3–6 cm long.

  • Bright red or yellow skin, covered in soft, fleshy spines (“hairs”).

  • Inside is a translucent, juicy aril surrounding a seed.

  • Flavor is sweet with mild acidity, similar to lychee but creamier.

Care

• Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soil.

• Water: Needs regular watering, cannot tolerate drought.

• Sun Light: Full sun for best fruiting.

Fertilizer

• Young trees (nursery–3 years): Higher nitrogen (N) for vegetative growth.

• Bearing trees (>4 years): Balanced fertilizer with more phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) for flowers, fruit set, and sweetness.

• Micronutrients: Rambutan needs magnesium (Mg), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) for healthy fruit.

• Organic options: Well-rotted cow manure, compost, neem cake, bone meal, or poultry manure.

 Uses & Benefits

• Fresh Fruit: Eaten raw, refreshing and hydrating.

• Culinary: Used in desserts, jams, juices, and canned fruit.

• Seed: Can be roasted and eaten (bitter if raw).

• Traditional Medicine: Bark, roots, and leaves sometimes used in folk remedies.

• Nutritional Value: Rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals like iron.