give you the information that I know about ‘Sweet Song’ litchi. I see on the forums that Josh gave some of the info and I will try and fill in the rest and answer your questions.
Indeed, this is a seedling tree from the late L.G. Allen, a dear friend of mine. He was an expert on litchi and had a fantastic collection in his yard in Bradenton. He told me that the tree had not fruited for 28 years from seed. This is probably an exaggeration because L.G. was very old when he told me this and did not live much longer after I received this information. His mind was not as sharp as it had been when I first met him at our club many years before.
He told me he wanted me to air-layer the tree to keep it going because he was going to sell his house and move to Colorado and live with his daughter. I air-layered the tree and removed it from the tree when it was ready. He allowed me only one air-layer. He said the he ate the fruit of this tree when he was in China and knew the Chinese name which was ‘Sweet Song’. I’ve looked extensively for this name in literature and various books on litchi but could never find it. L.G. was good at keeping secrets and he might have made up the name, I don’t know. But he assured me that was the name he would call it and that would be the name it would always go by. He loved the Chinese people with all his heart, especially the women. J He thought they were the most beautiful on earth. He said he would love to go back to China and eat the fruit off the ‘Sweet Song’ litchi that he had before but he never got the chance.
I ate the fruit from his tree just before he moved and passed away in Colorado and It was very special. A little like Mauritius but much better with more spice and flavor. It has a larger seed than ‘Sweetheart’ but bigger with much more flesh so it’s a good “trade off”. Also, after it fruited in a pot at my house, it fruited every year after that. I put it in the ground where it’s been for 18 years or so.
An Asian fellow came to my house many years ago when it was still in the pot and he tasted the fruit. I won’t tell you how much he offered me for the tree, but it was substantial. I told him I couldn’t sell it because it was the only one. The one at L.G.’s house had been dug up and moved when it was sold but it didn’t survive the move. So, I think I’m the only one who has it, other than those who purchased it from me. I asked the Asian man, who was Chinese, if he knew this litchi and he said he did. I asked him if it was called ‘Sweet Song’ in China. He only smiled and wouldn’t tell me. I don’t know why. Anyway, that’s what L.G. named it so that name has stuck.
It’s covered with fruit as I’m writing this and I can’t wait to have some again and remember my friend, L.G. Allen. I’m sure he is smiling down and waiting for his fruit to ripen, as well.
I hope this answers your questions.
Wayne