Inga Edulis
Inga edulis Mart.
Inga edulis, the Ice Cream Bean tree, is a magnificent, fast-growing Amazonian legume tree celebrated for its fragrant, brush-like white flower spikes and its remarkable pods filled with sweet, vanilla-flavored, cotton-like pulp. A keystone species in tropical agroforestry, it symbolizes generosity, abundance, ecological harmony, and the wisdom of working with nature.
Fabaceae, subfamily Mimosoideae (Legume family)
Repeated flowering throughout the year; blooms multiple times annually; peak during dry-to-wet season transitions
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: berry clusters (elderberry)s and callicarpas also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Inga edulis is one of the most profoundly useful trees on earth, and its cultural significance is inseparable from its ecological role. Named by the Tupi people of Amazonia, it has nourished indigenous communities across Central and South America for thousands of years. Its sweet, vanilla-flavored fruit pulp, which gave it the irresistible name "ice cream bean," is a beloved treat eaten raw across the region, sold in local markets from Colombia to Peru and beloved by monkeys, birds, and humans alike. But beyond its extraordinary fruit, the tree is a pillar of tropical agroforestry. Its nitrogen-fixing root nodules restore depleted soils, its dense canopy shades and protects coffee and cacao plantations, and its fast growth and ability to be heavily pruned and coppiced make it an indispensable tool in the fight against slash-and-burn deforestation. A tree that feeds people, rebuilds soil, shelters other crops, and provides habitat for bats, hummingbirds, and hawkmoths is, in every sense, a symbol of nature's generous wisdom and the power of ecological abundance.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun for best growth and fruiting; tolerates dappled shade; used as shade tree for coffee, cocoa, and tea plantations
Water
Prefers 1,200-2,500 mm annual rainfall; tolerates flooding of roots for 2-3 months per year; also tolerates 6-month dry seasons in established trees; water regularly for the first 3 years
Soil
Tolerates wide range including sandy, loamy, and clay, Prefers slightly acidic pH 5.0-6.5, Tolerates very acidic (pH 4.5) to moderately alkaline (pH 8.0), Improves poor and depleted soils through nitrogen fixation
Expert Growing Tips
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil of virtually any type; one of the most adaptable tropical trees available
Water regularly for the first three years; established trees are highly drought tolerant and can also tolerate temporary waterlogging
Prune regularly to control size and shape in smaller garden spaces; the tree coppices vigorously and tolerates hard pruning
As a nitrogen-fixing legume, Inga edulis builds soil fertility through root nodule bacteria; do not over-fertilize with nitrogen
Fruiting can begin as early as the second year from seed
Propagate from seed; germination is reliable in warm tropical conditions; do not allow seeds to dry out before planting
The seed name Inga comes from the Tupi people of South America; edulis means edible in Latin
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Spectacular shade and specimen tree for large tropical gardens and parks
- Agroforestry shade tree over coffee, cacao, and tea plantations
- Living fence and windbreak in tropical smallholder farming systems
- Nitrogen-fixing companion tree for intercropping and polyculture systems
- Pioneer reforestation species for degraded tropical land restoration
- Edible landscape tree combining ornamental flowers, shade, and delicious fruits
Traditional Uses
- Leaf decoctions used in traditional medicine for coughs and lip sores
- Fruit pulp is nutrient-rich with potential to help regulate blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol; documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
- Seeds edible only when cooked; taste similar to chickpeas; raw seeds contain potentially harmful compounds destroyed by cooking
- In Colombia, the fermented arils are used to prepare cachiri, an alcoholic beverage central to the festival of the same name
- The bark and wood used in traditional building and for fuel; wood moderately hard, durable, and used for packing cases and piles
- A key species in inga alley cropping, an agroforestry system developed as a sustainable alternative to slash-and-burn cultivation that restores soil fertility naturally
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Inga Edulis
Why is Inga edulis called the Ice Cream Bean?
Inga edulis gets its name from the extraordinary texture and flavor of the white, cottony arillus (pulp) that surrounds the seeds inside its long pods. The pulp has the light, airy texture of cotton candy and a flavor described as remarkably similar to vanilla ice cream, sometimes with a hint of cinnamon. It is eaten raw as a sweet snack across Central and South America.
What is the role of Inga edulis in agroforestry?
Inga edulis is one of the most important trees in tropical agroforestry. Its root nodules fix atmospheric nitrogen, restoring fertility to depleted soils. Its dense canopy provides shade for coffee, cacao, and tea crops. It tolerates heavy pruning and coppicing, making it easy to manage in alley cropping systems. As an alternative to slash-and-burn agriculture, inga alley cropping systems have been developed to enable sustainable food production while restoring rainforest soil.
When do Inga edulis flowers bloom?
Inga edulis flowers repeatedly throughout the year, with multiple flowering cycles annually. Each flowering event produces dense, fragrant, brush-like white flower spikes in the leaf axils. The flowers open at night, when they are visited by bats, hawkmoths, and hummingbirds as their primary pollinators. This nocturnal blooming is characteristic of many bat-pollinated tropical species.
Is the Inga edulis fruit edible?
Yes, the white cottony pulp (arillus) surrounding the seeds is edible and delicious when ripe, with a vanilla ice cream flavor. It is eaten raw as a snack. The seeds themselves are edible only when cooked, as cooking destroys potentially harmful compounds; cooked they taste similar to chickpeas. Only ripe, dark pods should be eaten; the fruit ripens quickly and is best eaten fresh.
What does the Inga edulis flower symbolize?
The Ice Cream Bean flower symbolizes generosity, abundance, and ecological harmony. The tree provides food for people and wildlife, restores depleted soils, shelters other crops, and contributes to reforestation, making it one of the most emblematically generous trees in the tropical world. Its fragrant white brush-flowers, opening at night to nourish bats and hawkmoths, embody the reciprocal generosity at the heart of healthy ecosystems.
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