Inga sp. '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