Icecream Bean
Inga ingoides
- Native to:
- Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Leeward Is., Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Marcgraf, George
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Inga
- Species:
- Inga ingoides
- USDA Symbol:
- ININ
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 2000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bats, insects
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in floodplain forests and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are recalcitrant and lose viability quickly; sow fresh. Scarification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI