Inga sp. cv. ‘Santa Cruz’
Santa Cruz Ice Cream Bean
Inga sp. cv. ‘Santa Cruz’
Inga sp. ‘Santa Cruz’, is a unique Ice Cream Bean species that has proven to be incredibly frost tolerant. Ice Cream Bean is a unique agroforestry tree that is commonly used in Tropical Agroforestry systems. The plant is a nitrogen fixer, meaning that it fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil via a symbiotic relationship with a bacteria that forms root nodules. The plant tissue is also rich in nitrogen and is often used as a “chop and drop” species. The fruit grows as a large bean pod, averaging around 10” long with this species specifically. The part of the fruit that is consumed is the white pulp surrounding the seeds, having a delightful sweet taste.
I highly recommend this species for those in frost sensitive areas because this species has been the most resilient for me and I’m planting it all over my orchard.
Family: Fabaceae
Name: Inga sp. ‘Santa Cruz’
Common Name / Native Name: Ice Cream Bean
Range: South America
Sun: Full sun/part shade
Height: ~20-30 feet
Width: ~20+ feet
Foliage: Pinnately compound, dark green leaves
Flower: Bright white bottlebrush flowers
Fruit: Large 10” pods filled with a delightful white pulp
Soil Type/ pH: Tolerates high pH
USDA Climate Zones: 9b+
Cold Hardiness: Capable of withstanding frosts, particularly at maturity. Young seedlings may experience die back but do not die.
Edibility: A pleasant tasting fruit with a delicate white, sweet pulp.
Age to maturity: 4 to 7 years
Sources:
Locally grown source