Rambutan is a tropical evergreen, native to Malaysia. It is widely grown in Southeast Asia with smaller plantings in Africa, Central America and Australia. In Hawaii, it has only been planted since 1975, but has quickly gained popularity as more people get a taste of this unusual, delicious lychee relative. The trees are medium size (25-35 feet), and will spread the same distance. In Hawaii, the trees bear from Fall through Spring, depending on the cultivar and the location.

Rambutan fruit is highly distinctive and very attractive with soft spines all over the skin, and is often referred to as "hairy lychee". The skin is red or yellow (depending on variety), while the spines can be green, red or yellow. Inside the fruit is translucent white, similar to lychee, but 2-3 times larger, with a delicious flavor.

Grafted trees will begin to bear 3-4 years after planting and reach maturity in eight to ten years. A mature tree can produce 250-300 pounds of fruit per year. The trees are wind sensitive, so windbreaks are needed to shelter them. Constant winds will result in defoliation. A hoop of hog wire wrapped with light shadecloth and placed around each tree is advisable when first planting in the orchard. After a year of good care and established windbreaks the cages should be removed. Fertilize the first year once a month or every 10 inches of rain with a balanced fertilizer containing minor nutrients. We often use a handful of "palm-citrus" with minors. The N-P-K is about 17-5-12. The trees also benefit from applications of manure or other organics. The second year your trees should be growing fine and can benefit from the same fertilizer, maybe given half as often but at higher dosages as the tree grows. Once the trees are at bearing age and start to flower you should lower the Nitrogen to 6% and consider applications of certain micronutrients, depending on your soils, etc.

All of the listed varieties are excellent high quality cultivars. Some cultivars may do better in some locations than others. The research is still ongoing. Some recommended varieties are:

'BINJAI': is an early bearer; medium size trees; has thin reddish-orange skin; is easy to peel, and the flesh is crisp.

'JITLEE': is an early bearer; medium size trees; has a thick crimson skin; the flesh is crisp and juicy and is freestone.

'R-134': is a mid-season cultivar; medium size trees; has a thin reddish-orange skin; the flesh is very juicy and is freestone.

'R-162': is a mid-season cultivar; medium size trees; has thick crimson skin; the flesh is crisp and delicious.

'R-167': is a mid-season cultivar; medium sized tree; has a thick crimson skin; the flesh is crisp, delicious and freestone.

'R-9': is a late season cultivar; medium-large trees; has thick red skin with green spinterns; the flesh is crisp and juicy.