Nut · Proteaceae
When to plant macadamias
Macadamia is a substantial evergreen tree, so plan for its mature canopy rather than the size of the nursery pot. Choose a known edible cultivar and confirm local suitability before expecting nuts from a protected ornamental specimen.
First crop estimate
Year 5
From planting; plant age and cultivar affect timing.
Hardy in USDA zones
9b to 11a
A winter-survival reference; heat, chill and drainage also matter.
Frost tolerance
Tender
How much cold the plant itself will take.
Choose a place for estimated dates and local climate checks.
Timing, in frost-relative terms
Macadamias occupy their position for years. Check mature size, drainage, winter survival and cultivar requirements before choosing a planting window. Frost dates alone cannot tell you whether the plant will thrive, flower or fruit.
- Approximate first cropping: year 5 after planting; nursery plant age, variety and growing conditions change this.
- Hardy in USDA zones 9b–11a.
Getting the timing right
Provide sun, shelter from strong wind and moist but drained soil. Young trees need a reliable water supply while establishing. In frost-prone regions, keeping a tree in a container may be practical for survival without making nut production realistic.
Frost tolerance
Check the named variety and local forecast before exposing young growth. The catalog cold-damage figure is a reference, not a guarantee: plant age, acclimatisation, wind and the duration of a freeze affect damage.
Classified as tender, with a catalog cold-damage reference of -3°C (26.6°F)26.6°F (-3°C). Exposure duration, growth stage and acclimatisation change cold tolerance.
Before you plant macadamias
Use the calendar to plan ahead, then check the conditions in your own garden.
- Check the local overnight forecast before planting out. Delay planting or keep protection ready if frost is forecast, even after the historical last-frost date.
- Check mature size, drainage and cultivar suitability before choosing a permanent position. A suitable planting window does not guarantee long-term survival or fruiting.
Choose a sheltered site for a long-lived macadamia tree
Provide sun, shelter from strong wind and moist but drained soil. Young trees need a reliable water supply while establishing. In frost-prone regions, keeping a tree in a container may be practical for survival without making nut production realistic.
Allow time for bearing and record flowering and sound nut production separately. Keep nuts and fallen material away from dogs, for which macadamias are toxic. Plan collection and processing as part of the crop, not an afterthought once nuts fall.
What to record this season
Did the tree flower and produce sound nuts without wind or cold damage? Add the cultivar, sowing date and conditions to your growing record so you can compare next season.
Further reading: NC State Extension: Macadamia integrifolia . General crop guidance; local dates on this site are calculated separately. Source checked 19 September 2026 by Safe to Plant; this is not an expert review.
The reference describes plant identity and cultivation. Its regional calendar months and hardiness observations do not validate the calculated dates for another location.
How the dates are calculated and their limits · Keep a growing record · Report a local discrepancy