Inga edulis – The Ice Cream Bean Tree: Shade, Fruit & Tropical Charm 🍦🌿
 
Fast-growing, fruitful, and full of tropical character, Inga edulis — commonly known as the Ice Cream Bean Tree — is a fascinating multi-purpose tree loved for its delicious, sweet-flavoured seed pulp and lush, fern-like foliage. Native to South America and popular in subtropical and tropical regions, it offers fast shade, nitrogen-fixing benefits, and edible fun all in one! 🍃🍨
 
The long, bean-like pods contain soft, cottony pulp that tastes like vanilla ice cream — a favourite among kids and gardeners alike. With its spreading canopy and rapid growth, Inga edulis makes an ideal shade tree, windbreak, or permaculture companion. 🌞🌱
 
Mature Size:
🔸 Height: 8 – 15 m
🔸 Width: 6 – 10 m
(Can be pruned to maintain smaller size)
 
Why You’ll Love It:
🍦 Edible, vanilla-flavoured pulp in large seed pods
🌿 Fast-growing with lush, tropical foliage
🌳 Provides quick shade and improves soil
🌱 Nitrogen-fixing – perfect for permaculture and food forests
🦋 Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
 
Care Tips:
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Water regularly while establishing. Prune after fruiting to control size and encourage branching. Mulch well and apply compost or organic fertiliser to support fruiting. Best grown in warm, frost-free climates.
 
Inga edulis brings food, function, and tropical beauty — a deliciously rewarding tree for edible landscapes and garden ecosystems. 🌿🍨