Inga edulis (Ice Cream Bean)

Inga edulis, commonly known as Ice Cream Bean, is a fast-growing evergreen tree in the Fabaceae family native to the Amazon Basin and widely cultivated throughout tropical America. It typically reaches 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 m) tall, developing a broad, spreading crown that provides excellent shade. The tree bears large pinnate leaves and fragrant white flowers with long, silky stamens that attract bees and other pollinators. It is valued both as an ornamental and as a multipurpose tree for agroforestry, shade, and soil improvement through nitrogen fixation.

Its long green pods contain large seeds surrounded by a sweet, cottony white pulp with a flavor often compared to vanilla ice cream. Inga edulis grows best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture, although established trees tolerate seasonal dry periods. It is hardy in USDA Zones 10-12. Inga edulis is extremely similar to the closely related Inga feuilleei. These two species have been widely confused in horticulture and even in botanical collections for many decades. Reliable identification often requires close examination of floral structures and the shape of the interfoliar nectaries rather than leaves or fruits alone..

Watch the video: How to plant Ice Cream Bean Tree: Eating the fruit and planting the tree.