Groff

'Groff' is the second lychee selection released out of the University of Hawaii's CTAHR breeding work, and like 'Kaimana' it came from a 'Hak Ip' seedling. Its value is almost entirely about timing: it matures from late August through September, weeks after every other cultivar has finished, which lets a Hawaii grower extend the lychee season well past the normal window. The tree is upright and only moderately vigorous, and it bears somewhat more regularly than the notoriously erratic premium cultivars. The trade-off is fruit size - it is one of the smallest named lychees in cultivation - although a high percentage of abortive seeds keeps the edible proportion respectable. UF/IFAS lists it as resistant to anthracnose but marks it only marginally suitable for Florida home planting and not recommended commercially.