7 Edible Nut Trees To Grow In Your Yard
Almond Orchard
Planting edible nut trees is a wonderful way to enhance your yard or garden with both beauty and function. Often overlooked by gardeners, nut trees bring many benefits worth considering when planning your planting scheme.
Edible nut trees attract a variety of wildlife, enriching your garden's biodiversity by drawing in birds, squirrels, and beneficial insects. Planting nut trees positively impacts the environment, helping to prevent soil erosion, improve soil health, and sequester carbon. Once mature, these leafy green trees provide valuable shade, helping to cool your outdoor spaces during the heat of summer.
And, of course, in years to come, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful crop of home-grown nuts to harvest! The fresh nuts these trees produce offer a nutritious and tasty addition to your diet, reducing reliance on store-bought options and minimizing packaging waste.
To ensure the best start for your nut trees, plant them in early spring or fall. These seasons provide the ideal conditions for the roots to become well-established before the heat of summer or the chill of winter sets in.
1. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
Hazelnut trees are often grown as shrubs and can work well as a hedge or in an ornamental border. Planting two or three varieties is advised for optimal nut production, as cross-pollination results in larger yields.
· Ideal location: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
· Soil type: Well-drained, loamy soil; pH 5.5 to 7.5.
· Weather: USDA Zones 4-9 – tolerates moderate drought but prefers cooler climates.
· Mature size: 10-20 feet tall, 10-15 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 2-5 years.
Cashew Tree
2. Almond (Prunus dulcis)
Almonds are one of the few nut trees that will thrive in hot, dry climates. Most almond varieties are not self-pollinating and require pollen from another compatible almond variety to set fruit.
· Ideal location: Full sun; best in sheltered locations with plenty of warmth.
· Soil type: Well-drained, sandy loam soil; pH 6.0 to 7.5.
· Weather: USDA Zones 7-9 – sensitive to frost and prefers hot, dry summers.
· Mature size: 15-30 feet tall, 10-15 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 3-6 years.
3. Pistachio (Pistacia vera)
Pistachio trees will take at least five years to start producing nuts but will remain productive for many decades to come. These bushy trees require a male and female specimen for optimum pollination.
· Ideal location: Full sun; best in hot, arid climates.
· Soil type: Deep, well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soils including sandy and rocky.
· Weather: USDA Zones 7-10 – very frost-tolerant but needs long, hot summers to produce high yields.
· Mature size: 20-30 feet tall, 20-30 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 5-8 years.
4. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
Cashew nut trees are the ideal choice for warm, subtropical climates. These fast-growing trees will start to produce a small crop after just three years.
· Ideal location: Full sun.
· Soil type: Sandy, well-drained soil; pH 5.0 to 6.5.
· Weather: USDA Zones 10-12 – sensitive to frost, requires warm temperatures year-round; drought-tolerant.
· Mature size: 20-40 feet tall, 25-30 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 3-5 years.
5. Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)
Macadamia nut trees are often grown in large containers and make a striking addition to your outdoor seating area.
· Ideal location: Full sun with protection from strong winds.
· Soil type: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil; pH 5.0 to 6.5.
· Weather: USDA Zones 9-11 – sensitive to frost and prefers consistent moisture.
· Mature size: 30-40 feet tall, 20-40 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 5-7 years.
6. Chestnut (Castanea spp.)
Walnut Tree
Chestnut trees can grow to a considerable size so make sure you’ve got plenty of space before planting one! Chestnuts are delicious roasted or can be used to make a smooth, creamy soup.
· Ideal location: Full sun; requires plenty of space due to its large size.
· Soil type: Well-drained, acidic to neutral soil; pH 4.5 to 6.5.
· Weather: USDA Zones 4-8 – tolerates frost well; moderate drought tolerance.
· Mature Size: 40-60 feet tall, 30-40 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 5-7 years.
7. English Walnut (Juglans regia)
English walnuts are beautiful, majestic trees that cast dappled shade under their wide canopies. For a guaranteed yield, opt for a self-pollinating grafted variety of English walnut.
· Ideal location: Full sun; best in open areas with good air circulation.
· Soil type: Deep, fertile, well-drained soil; pH 6.0 to 7.5.
· Weather: USDA Zones 5-9 – sensitive to late spring frosts; moderate drought tolerance.
· Mature size: 40-60 feet tall, 40-60 feet wide.
· Years to nut production: 4-7 years.