Inga edulis aka Ice Cream Bean

Inga edulis, or ice cream bean, is an evergreen tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It comes from tropical South America. Its range includes Brazil, the Guianas, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It grows in floodplain forests, wooded swamps and open sites. People gather its fruit from wild trees and grow it as a crop.

The tree grows fast and forms a wide crown. Garden references give a height of about 56–59 feet [17–18 m]. Other accounts describe trees reaching 66 feet [20 m]. The largest reported trees reach 98 feet [30 m]. Its spread can reach 59 feet [18 m]. The trunk may twist and branch close to the ground. It can reach about 2 feet [0.6 m] across. The compound leaves have four to six pairs of leaflets.

Flowers grow near the branch tips. They give rise to long pods with sweet, white flesh around the seeds. This flesh is translucent and has a soft, jelly-like texture. Some forms have a hint of cinnamon in their flavour. Pods can reach about 3.3 feet [1 m] long. Their size and the amount of flesh vary between trees. People value the fruit in South America and sell it in local markets.

This tree suits hot, humid tropical sites. It grows best with daytime temperatures of 23–30°C. Give it full sun, though it also grows in light shade. It accepts sand, loam and clay, including strongly acid soils. It grows in moist or wet ground and can withstand drought. Frost poses a clear risk despite its listed USDA range of 9–12. New shoots suffer damage at 0°C. Temperatures of −2°C or below may kill mature trees.

Its broad crown gives shade to homes and plantation crops. Growers plant it among coffee, tea and cacao. The tree fixes nitrogen, while fallen leaves add organic matter. Its leaf mulch can reduce weeds and soil loss. Growers also use it for hedges, living fences and coppicing. The wood serves for packing cases, posts and fuel. Traditional remedies use leaf preparations for coughs and lip sores. These uses do not establish medical benefit. The sources report no known hazards, but give no specific pet-safety findings.