Anacardium occidentale
Family: Anacardiaceae

Native to tropical America, this evergreen, spreading tree is grown in the tropics around the world for its delicious nuts. It can be grown in zone 10 but in this zone does not fruit very freely. The tree grows best in semi-arid, hot climates. The nuts are enclosed in a double-shelled, kidney-shaped, orange fruit which is about 2 cm (1 in) in length. After being roasted to destroy the acid juice, the nuts are sweet, oily and nutritious, and are either eaten raw or used in cooking. The nut also yields an oil, similar to olive oil, which in some countries is used to flavor wine, especially madeira. The fleshy, pear-shaped stalk known as 'cashew apple', is juicy, slightly acid, and eaten by native peoples or fermented to make wine. The tree produces a white, acrid juice or gum used to make varnish for woodwork.

Cultivation

The cashew is not often cultivated in North America and plants are not readily available. If attempted, it should be grown in a pot or tub in a warm greenhouse or conservatory as a novelty foliage plant. Grow it in well-drained, soil-based potting compost. Prop-agate from seed.

Climate

Cashew grows in zone 10 but does best in higher zones.