Cashew Nut Seeds

The Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) is one of the world's most fascinating tropical fruit trees, valued for producing both the famous cashew nut and the colorful cashew apple from which it grows. Native to northeastern Brazil, this attractive evergreen has spread throughout the tropical regions of the world, becoming an important commercial crop in India, Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. With its broad canopy, glossy green foliage, and clusters of fragrant pink to cream-colored flowers, the tree is both ornamental and highly productive, making it an excellent addition to frost-free home landscapes.

Following flowering, the tree develops an unusual swollen fruit stalk known as the cashew apple, which may ripen to shades of yellow, orange, or brilliant red. The true fruit is the familiar kidney-shaped cashew nut that grows from the bottom of the apple in a hard shell. The juicy cashew apple is rich in vitamin C and is widely enjoyed fresh or made into juices, jams, wines, and preserves in many tropical countries. The edible cashew kernel is one of the world's most popular nuts, prized for its sweet, buttery flavor and used in everything from snacks and desserts to gourmet cooking and dairy-free products. It is important to note that raw cashew shells contain a naturally caustic oil and must be properly processed before the nuts are safe to eat.

Cashew trees thrive in warm, frost-free climates where they receive full sun and well-drained soil. Once established they are remarkably drought tolerant and perform well in sandy or moderately poor soils where many other fruit trees struggle. Trees typically begin bearing within three to five years and continue producing for decades under favorable conditions. Their spreading branches provide welcome shade while the colorful fruit and attractive evergreen foliage create year-round ornamental interest. For gardeners in tropical and subtropical regions, the Cashew Tree offers the unique opportunity to grow one of the world's most distinctive and economically important fruit crops right at home.

Specifications

• Botanical Name: Anacardium occidentale
• Common Name: Cashew Nut Tree
• Plant Type: Tropical evergreen fruit tree
• Height: 20–40 feet
• Spread: 20–40 feet
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy soil
• Water: Moderate until established; drought tolerant afterward
• USDA Zones: 10–11
• Bloom Time: Warm season
• Fruiting Time: Approximately 3–5 years from seed under favorable conditions

Seedman Notes

Few fruit trees are as unique as the Cashew Tree. The unusual combination of the colorful cashew apple with the attached kidney-shaped nut makes it a fascinating conversation piece as well as a productive landscape tree. Although commercial cashew production requires specialized processing of the nuts, the tree remains an outstanding ornamental for tropical gardens and offers gardeners the opportunity to grow one of the world's most recognizable and historically important food crops from seed.