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Queensland Nut Macadamia integrifolia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
mak-uh-DAY-mee-a in-teg-ree-FOH-lee-uh
Description

Macadamia Nut is a large, broad leaf evergreen tree in the wintergreen family and native to the rain forests of New South Wales in the south eastern corner of Australia. It was introduced to Hawaii from which most of the commercial nuts come from today. The tree is an attractive evergreen and can make a good shade and flowering tree. At maturity, it will reach a height of 50 feet and a spread of 40 fee. The large leaves occur in whorls and the pink fragrant flowers are in drooping clusters. The genus name honors John Macadam (1827-1865), a chemist and lecturer in Melborne, Australia. The species name means with entire or uncut leaves.

There are two species of macadamia nuts grown today: M. integrifolia is the most common and has a smooth shell while M. teteraphylla has a rough shell.

Macadamia Nut trees prefer humus-rich, moist, well drained soils in full sun and are intolerant of frost. They need lots of water when young, but become drought tolerant with age. In its natural habitat, young trees benefit from a consistent rainfall of 50 inches per year. The tree will start producing fruit at 6 to 7 years of age.

In colder climates, it can be grown in a pot and brought into a greenhouse in the winter.  The tree should also be planted in a site that protects it from strong winds. Ingesting parts of this tree can cause depression, hyperthermia, weakness, muscular stiffness, vomiting, tremors, and increased heart rate in dogs.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

The trees in Australia have been affected by fungal pathogens that cause flower blight.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#shade tree#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#slow growing#frost tender#broadleaf evergreen#flowering tree#edible fruits#evergreen tree#problem for dogs
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#shade tree#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#slow growing#frost tender#broadleaf evergreen#flowering tree#edible fruits#evergreen tree#problem for dogs
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Macadamia
    Species:
    integrifolia
    Family:
    Proteaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Macadamia nuts are a valuable food crop.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Australia, New South Wales
    Distribution:
    Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Mozambique, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Peru.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Edible fruit
    Shade
    Edibility:
    Nuts are edible raw or cooked and ground into flour.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-trunked
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    White
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Green husks surround the hard, smooth shells that enclose creamy-white nuts.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Drooping 8 inch racemes of 1/2 inch long, fragrant pinkish-white flowers appear in winter and spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Eight to ten inch long evergreen leaves are oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate in whorls of three. Margins slightly wavy.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Problem for Dogs