Latin name - Anacardium occidentale

One of the few nut trees well suited to south Florida, the Cashew grows quickly and produces at a young age, with relatively little pest or disease issues.  The Cashew tree actually produces two desirable crops:  The Cashew “nut” and the Cashew “apple”– yes, it makes both a fruit and a nut on the same tree!  The Cashew nut is obviously commonly eaten around the world, but the “apple” is not so well-known.  It tastes sweet and tangy, like a mix of mango and pear, with an astringent aftertaste.  They are very popular in the Caribbean, and often used to make juice or other beverages.  The Cashew apple is a yellow or red color, and below each one hangs a greyish shell containing a single Cashew nut.

  Coming from the plant family Anacardiaceae, the Cashew tree is a relative of the mango, June plum, Brazilian pepper, and… poison ivy!  One thing most of these species have in common is that they contain urushiol, an oily compound which can cause skin irritation and sometimes strong allergic reactions. If you’ve ever wondered why Cashew nuts can be so expensive, it’s because producing them at a mass scale is very labor intensive, with strong precautionary measures taken to ensure that workers aren’t exposed to excessive amounts of urushiol.  Growing your own Cashew tree at home isn’t dangerous or risky, but just like an Ackee tree, you must know to handle the fruit it produces with care.

Cashew trees grow quickly in full sun, and are generally pest-free.  The largest one we’ve seen in south Florida is about 25 or 30 feet tall.  They can start to flower and produce at just 3 years old, much faster than any other nut tree (walnuts can take 10 years– and they don’t grow in Florida)  For those who want to grow their own nuts, Cashew might be your best option in South Florida!

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Size: 15-25 feet, can be pruned to keep smaller

Sun Requirements: Full Sun

Cold Hardy: 30 degrees F

Harvest Season:  Summer

Watering requirements:  Will grow best with irrigation, can handle short dry spells.

Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub Canopy