Litchi does not reproduce from the seed because seedling plants have long juvenile period. Seedling trees do not bear until they are 5 to 12 years old. For these reasons, seeds are planted mostly for selection and breeding purposes or for rootstock.

Airlayering or marcottage is the best method widely used for the propagation of litchi. Upright branches (1.5 cm stem diameter and 30-60 cm long) from well developed trees, free from pest and disease are selected for marcottage.

Roots developed faster on branches with mature vegetative growth compared with recently flushed wood. Air layering is mostly done in the month of July-Aug. Within  6 weeks sufficient roots are formed to permit detaching of the layers, removal of the plastic wrap and planting in soil in nursery containers. It is possible to take air-layer branches up to 4 inches (10 cm) thick, and 200 to 300 layers could be taken from a large tree.