Nut Trees

Calodendrum capense or Cape Chestnut is a captivating small to medium-sized evergreen tree that adds elegance and charm to any landscape. From November to December, this tree showcases its beauty with spectacular flowers, which can either be pink or white, covering its crown. Despite its name, it is not related to chestnuts or horse chestnuts but belongs to the citrus family. Its smooth grey bark adds to its visual appeal, making it a standout feature in any garden. The Cape Chestnut is not only prized for its stunning flowers but also for its smooth grey bark, further enhancing its allure and making it a beloved choice for gardeners seeking both beauty and character in their outdoor spaces.

Soil: Thrives in well-drained soil; adaptable to various soil types.
Conditions: Prefers full sun to part shade; drought tolerant once established.
Size: 10m H x 6m W

The Macadamia integrifolia, commonly known as the macadamia nut tree, is a beautiful medium-sized evergreen tree prized for producing the delicious macadamia nut. With its glossy green foliage and decorative, pendulous flower trusses, it is both productive and ornamental, making it a standout feature in Australian gardens. From late winter through spring, the tree bears intensely fragrant cream-white flowers that hang in elegant clusters. These blooms are not only attractive but signal the beginning of the nut development cycle. Macadamia nuts are slow to ripen, taking just over six months from flowering to maturity. Mature nuts naturally fall to the ground when ready and should be collected promptly to ensure freshness and prevent spoilage. The harvest period is long and rewarding, typically running from March through to June. Grafted varieties are strongly recommended for home gardeners and orchard growers alike. Grafted trees provide more consistent nut production, improved nut quality, and often begin bearing earlier than seed-grown trees.

Soil: Prefers moist, fertile soils with good drainage. 
Conditions: It is a hardy and easy-care tree best suited to sub-tropical to warm temperate climates.
Size: Height 5-10m x width 4-6m

Alpinia nutans Dwarf Cardomom/Cardamom Leaf is a small ginger plant with thick lush foliage. Small white flowers bloom in spring/summer - although its best feature is the aromatic and spicy foliage!  When crushed, the leaves have a very distinct cardamom fragrance. The leaves can be used in desserts, and salads, to flavour steamed rice, or to wrap fish. The highly aromatic leaves can be used in tea, to make tinctures or infused oils. The compact growth habit makes it ideal for borders or under-storey filler and makes an excellent landscaping and screening plant with its dense growth habit. Alpinia nutans makes a lovely indoor foliage plant.

Soil: Moist well-drained soil, rich in organic matter.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Grows well anywhere in Australia.
Size: Height 1-1.5m x width 0.5-1m

Dwarf Almond (Prunus dulcis syn. Prunus amygdalus) is a reliable and low-maintenance fruit tree that produces delicious almonds while remaining compact in size. Grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock, it develops an upright yet manageable growth habit, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, home orchards, or large pots and containers. Being self-fertile, only one tree is needed to produce a crop, although yields may improve when planted near other almond varieties. The tree forms an attractive open canopy and in spring it becomes a striking feature with masses of delicate white-pink blossoms. After flowering, it sets large, broad, paper-shelled almonds that mature in autumn. The nuts are ready to harvest when the outer hull begins to split open, revealing the shell inside. Thanks to its heavy cropping habit, ornamental spring display and compact size, dwarf almond is an excellent addition to productive backyard gardens where space may be limited.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Almonds require a climate with dry summer-autumn and cool winters. 
Size: Height 3m x width 3m

Lambert Hazelnut produces a prolific crop of excellent quality, large-size nuts with a sweet flavour. Lambert is perhaps one of the heaviest cropping varieties. Hazelnut trees flower in winter with both male and female flowers on the same tree. As they tend to flower are different times, two varieties are needed for successful pollination - Cosford, Red Adeline or Wanliss Pride are recommended. Grown mainly for the nuts, hazelnut trees are perfect as ornamental trees and sometimes - as they tend to sucker - as a fruiting hedge. Lambert hazelnuts are ideal for roasting, blanching or eating fresh off the tree.

Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Prefers cool to warm temperate climates. Frost hardy.
Size: Height 4m x width 4m

Prunus All in One Zaione is an excellent, self-pollinating almond tree that bears heavy crops of soft-shelled almonds with a delicious, sweet flavour. It produces gorgeous spring blossoms, masses of edible almonds in late summer and spectacular autumn foliage. It is perfect for smaller gardens and works well in large pots for courtyards or patios. Almonds are used for blanching, roasting, eaten fresh, or in confectionary

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. It grows best in a warm, dry climate. Heat tolerant.
Size: Height 3m x width 3m

The Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a majestic, long-lived specimen tree, perfectly suited to paddocks and large gardens where it has room to grow into its full grandeur. With a broad, spreading canopy and deeply furrowed dark bark, it creates impressive shade while adding strong structural beauty to the landscape. In spring, graceful olive-green catkins hang from the branches, bringing seasonal interest before developing into abundant crops of round, 5cm walnuts encased in thick green husks. By autumn, the ripe nuts naturally fall from the tree, ready to be gathered. Once hulled and properly dried, they can be stored for up to two years in a cool, dry place. Inside the hard shell is a richly flavoured kernel with a sweet, delicate walnut taste that is highly prized for snacking, baking, and savoury cooking. Black walnuts are considered one of the most premium nuts available, valued for their distinctive flavour as well as their impressive nutritional benefits.

Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Frost tolerant.
Size: Height 15m x width 10m

Cosford Hazelnut is a mid-sized shrub or small tree with green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Flowers are produced early in spring - before the leaves - followed by fruit in clusters. The hazelnut has a roughly spherical to oval shape and is excellent eaten fresh as well as roasting and cooking. Suggested cross pollinators are Wanliss Pride and Red Aveline. Although both male and female flowers are borne on the same tree, they don’t always flower at the same time. Planting different varieties will assist with pollination.

Soil: Well-drained and well-worked soil.
Conditions: Plant in a sunny position. Prefers temperate climates.
Size: Height 4-5m x width 3-4