Lychee is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is a tropical tree native to the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of southeastern China, where cultivation is documented from the 11th century.
Lychee is a tropical evergreen tree native to China, where it grows in a warm, wet climate. It bears small, dimpled fleshy fruits. The outside of the fruit has a rough, pink-red skin that is inedible and the inside flesh is clear to white and sweet. The brown, inside seed is poisonous and should be discarded (or planted). The fruit has a light, perfume-like flavor. It is usually eaten fresh or frozen and can be made into sauces, jam, puree, or preserves. Like many other tropical fruits, such as avocado, lychee is not a natural choice for indoor gardeners. It's more of a novelty plant and will be unlikely to ever bear fruit or grow to maturity (unless you have a greenhouse). Still, it can be fun to sprout these seeds in an attempt to grow an attractive plant.