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Ice Cream Bean

Ice Cream Bean

Inga edulis

tree☀️ full sun💧💧💧 high waterZone 10aZone 11b

A tropical tree producing distinctive ice-cream-flavored pods with creamy white pulp that can be eaten fresh or used for desserts. Nitrogen-fixing legume valuable for permaculture systems, particularly in humid tropical and subtropical regions.

Overview

Form
Spreading
Growth Rate
fast
Size
20–40′ tall × 20–40′ wide
Dormancy
evergreen

Tolerances & Soil

Zone 10aZone 11b
1471013
ColderWarmer
Zone range: Zone 10a to Zone 11b

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

Sub-canopy

Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native Range

Amazon Basin, Peru and Ecuador

Function & Care

biomass/mulchediblenitrogen fixerwildlife benefit

Edible Parts

podseed

Establishment & Care

Establishment
easy
Maintenance
low
Years to Bearing
3 years
Propagation
seed