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Bushfood

Macadamia

Macadamia integrifolia, M. tetraphylla and hybrids · also Queensland nut, Australian nut

Australia's best-known bushfood nut, native to the subtropical east coast. It grows in Adelaide in a sheltered, frost-free spot with deep, well-drained soil and regular summer water, and starts cropping after 4 or 5 years. Grafted dwarf cultivars suit backyards and large pots.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • A16Australian-bred, compact and heavy-cropping
  • Beaumont (HAES 695)Hybrid cultivar widely sold for home gardens; upright and productive
  • Dwarf grafted cultivarsStay around 4 to 5 m; suit small yards and very large pots

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    600 cm apart. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Deep water weekly in summer; never waterlogged.

  3. Feed

    Low-phosphorus native fertiliser or aged manure in spring.

  4. Pick

    Collect nuts from the ground as they fall in autumn and winter; dry in the shell for a few weeks before cracking.

Good to know

  • Buy grafted trees: seedlings can take 7 or more years to crop and quality varies
  • Like other Proteaceae, roots are sensitive to high phosphorus: avoid general fertilisers high in P
  • Plant in autumn so roots settle before summer heat
  • Keep nuts away from dogs: they are toxic to dogs

Common problems

  • Frost damage on young treesplant in a sheltered spot and cover on frosty nights for the first few winters
  • Root rot in heavy or wet soilplant on a mound with plenty of organic matter
  • Husk spot (husk bite; nuts drop early)collect fallen nuts and husks; use a registered copper spray following label directions if severe
  • Rats taking nutscollect fallen nuts often and keep the ground clear underneath
  • Leaf burn in hot windsuse a windbreak and mulch well

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about macadamiaAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing macadamiaQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Native and wildlife

An Australian native. Plant tube stock in autumn so roots settle in over winter rain.

Good for: bees, birds.

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.