Inga Vulpina Dwarf Ice Cream Bean
Dwarf Ice Cream Bean (Inga Vulpina)
These plants are grown and shipped in a 5” square pots. Plants are about 5” tall.
Note: You will often see any ice cream bean tree labeled as inga edulis, and this is mostly incorrect. Inga edulis produces very long pods and does not fruit well in Florida
General Info
The common name “Ice Cream Bean” refers to any number of legume trees in the inga family. These seedlings are inga vulpina. This inga species is unique because it is dwarf and produces pink flowers (most others are white). The fruits are also smaller than most other ingas and are white on the outside like inga laurina.
All inga species fix atmospheric nitrogen and are in the category of “nitrogen fixers”. They have great value in food forest systems, providing fertilizer, food crops, and shade for understory plants like coffee. They grow very quickly and can start flowering in as few as three years, though it may take them a bit longer to hold fruits. Ice Cream Bean trees also make great stand alone specimens, being both strikingly beautiful and easy to grow.
Size
This dwarf ice cream bean tree gets to about 20' and can be kept smaller with pruning.
Growing Conditions
Grows in full sun and dappled shade. Being a nitrogen fixer, it is tolerant of poor soils. This tree has been the top performer in Real Sweet Farms' remote location, growing exceedingly well on the poor soils.
Taste
The white pulp surrounding the seeds is sweet, juicy, and hinting of cotton candy. The seeds of many species are also edible when roasted.
Climate
Sub-Tropical/Tropical
Season
In Florida, trees can flower and produce from spring - fall
Cold Tolerance
Ice cream beans appear to have at least some cold tolerance, perhaps similar to mango.
Propagation
Propagation of inga species is by fresh seeds. Seeds have a very short viability.
Source
Seeds were obtained from Hawaii