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Ice Cream Bean Tree (Inga sp.) 4"

$35.00
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Sweet tropical shade meets regenerative power — a must-have nitrogen-fixing fruit tree for any food forest.
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Ice Cream Bean Tree (Inga sp.) 4"
Product Details

🍦 Ice Cream Bean (Inga sp.) — Nature’s Sweetest Nitrogen Fixer! 🌿

Bring a taste of the tropics and the power of regeneration to your landscape with the Ice Cream Bean — a Guatemalan treasure that’s as delicious as it is functional! Whether you’re building a food forest or craving a new conversation piece, this tree does it all: shade, soil enrichment, pollinator support, and fruit that tastes like vanilla cotton candy.


🌿 QUICK FACTS

Category Details
Botanical Name Inga sp. (commonly known as Ice Cream Bean)
Plant Type Tropical/Subtropical Fruit Tree & Nitrogen-Fixing Legume
Size at Sale Ships in a 4” pot
Estimated Age 3–6 months
Mature Height & Width 30–60 ft tall × 30–40 ft wide (unpruned)
USDA Zones 9–11
Sun Requirements Full sun to partial shade
Cold Hardiness Sensitive below 28°F — protect young plants
Growth Habit Fast-growing evergreen; open, airy canopy
Spacing Requirements 20–30 ft apart for orchard or agroforestry systems

🍈 FRUIT & FLAVOR PROFILE

  • Pods: Extra-large (up to 2 ft long) with fluffy white pulp inside
  • Flavor: Soft, cottony, and unmistakably sweet — like vanilla ice cream with a hint of pear
  • Texture: Silky, melt-in-your-mouth; kids love it fresh from the pod
  • Harvest Season: Late spring through summer in Florida; may fruit multiple times in equatorial climates
  • Yield: Heavy producer once mature (3–5 years from seedling)

💡 Tip: Pollinated by bats, bees, and even hummingbirds — a natural pollinator magnet for diverse landscapes.


🌱 ECOLOGICAL POWERHOUSE & EDIBLE DELIGHT

The Ice Cream Bean is far more than a novelty fruit — it’s a regenerative champion. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it forms symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available nutrients. This natural fertilization reduces your need for chemical inputs while feeding the surrounding ecosystem.

  • 🌿 Improves Soil Fertility: Feeds itself and neighboring fruit trees
  • 🌳 Excellent Shade Canopy: Ideal overstory for coffee, cacao, or understory crops
  • 🐝 Pollinator Haven: Fragrant white flowers attract bees, butterflies & bats
  • 🍦 Edible Pods: Enjoy fresh from the tree — a true tropical dessert!

ORIGIN STORY

Native to the lush rainforests of Central and South America, the Ice Cream Bean has been cultivated for centuries by Indigenous communities for both sustenance and shade. In rural Guatemala and Colombia, families plant it as a “living pantry tree,” harvesting the fruit for snacks and using the canopy to protect cacao and coffee crops.

Its name comes from the sweet, frothy pulp inside its pods — so reminiscent of vanilla ice cream that explorers of the 18th century nicknamed it the “Dessert Tree.” 🍨


🪴 CONTAINER & LANDSCAPE USE

While this tree can grow massive in tropical settings, young 4” plants are perfect for establishing quickly or growing in containers during their early stages.

  • Keep in its 4” pot for several weeks after arrival to recover from shipping
  • Transplant to a 3- or 7-gallon container as roots fill out
  • Suitable for patio culture or nursery start until ready for permanent planting

BEST PRACTICES FOR PLANTING & CARE

Where to Plant:

Choose a sunny, well-drained spot with room to grow. Great for open yards, edges of orchards, or as a food forest canopy species.

Planting Tips:

  • Dig a hole only slightly wider than the pot and no deeper
  • Backfill with native soil blended with compost or biochar
  • Always plant high & tight — never bury the stem below the soil line
  • Water deeply and consistently during establishment
  • Mulch with hardwood chips, keeping mulch a few inches off the trunk

▶️ Watch our GreenDreams “High & Tight” Planting Video: YouTube Link

Watering:

  • Daily for the first week after transplant
  • Every 2–3 days once established in container; weekly when in ground
  • Use drip irrigation for efficiency and consistency

Pruning:

  • Light prune in spring to maintain manageable shape
  • Remove lower branches to encourage strong canopy form
  • Use nitrogen-rich prunings as chop-and-drop mulch — nature’s free fertilizer ♻️

Fertilizing:

  • Minimal fertilizer needed due to nitrogen fixation
  • Supplement with compost or worm castings for trace minerals

⚠️ CAUTIONS

  • Cold Sensitive: Protect young trees under 30°F (use frost cloth or container relocation)
  • Size Awareness: This is a fast grower; choose planting location wisely
  • Non-Invasive but Vigorous: Not ideal for small courtyards

🌟 IS THIS PLANT RIGHT FOR YOU?

Ideal For:

  • Home gardeners seeking a tropical showpiece tree
  • Food forest & permaculture designers needing a nitrogen-fixing overstory
  • Growers who love unusual edible fruits

Not Ideal For:

  • Northern or arid climates prone to frost
  • Small yards with limited overhead space

🔍 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

⚠️ Issue 🧠 Cause 🌿 Organic Solution
🍂 Yellowing leaves 💧 Overwatering or poor drainage 🌾 Add compost & raise planting mound
🫣 Curling new growth 🌬️ Wind or heat stress 💦 Increase watering & provide temporary shade
🍄 Leaf spots 🧫 Fungal moisture buildup ❄️ Apply neem oil & improve airflow
❄️ Cold damage 🌡️ Freeze exposure 🪵 Mulch root zone & cover canopy overnight
🐛 Chewed foliage 🪲 Caterpillars 🐞 Encourage ladybugs or spray neem oil

(Icons follow GreenDreams’ Organic Troubleshooting Legend.)


🌿 BEYOND THE PLANT: GREENDREAMS SERVICES

At GreenDreams, we do more than grow plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.

  • 🌳 Onsite consultations & edible landscape design
  • 🚜 Installation & project management
  • 🌾 Bulk delivery of compost, mulch, biochar & soil materials
  • 🏗️ Wholesale & large-scale regenerative solutions

Let our team help you create your thriving edible paradise — starting with your Ice Cream Bean! 🌱


🚚 SHIPPING DETAILS

  • Ships in 4” container
  • Ideal for shipping to Florida, the Southeastern US & Texas
  • We ship every Monday via UPS Ground
  • Buyer discretion advised during peak heat or cold seasons — recovery time may be required upon arrival

LOCAL PICKUP

📍 GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕘 Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | 🌞 Sat 8AM–3PM

Come see what’s fresh and blooming this week! 🌸

IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.

Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location
, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
 

1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
 

2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.

  • For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.

  • For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
     

3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.

  • We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.

  • Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
     

For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.

 

🌿 Important Shipping Information

Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.

  • Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.

  • Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.

  • Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.

  • Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better

 

 

 

Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants

1. Understanding of Shipping Stress

By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.

2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage

Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.

3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations

Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.

4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule

Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.

5.Extreme Weather Conditions

Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.

6. No Refund Policy

Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.

7. Responsibility of Care

Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.

8. Consent

By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.

These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.

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GreenDreams Sustainable Solutions, Inc.
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Shop Our Retail Nursery Location: Open to the Public!
TUES - FRI 9 AM - 5 PM / SAT 8 AM - 3 PM

Retail Nursery Info + Contact - Click Here

All Online Orders Ship Mondays
Question About Your Online Order? USE CONTACT FORM HERE

ONLINE NURSERY / SHIPPING DEPT / MATERIALS DELIVERY / CONSULTATION & DESIGN - PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT FORM FOR BEST SERVICE: USE CONTACT FORM HERE

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