Growing Macadamia in Australia: The Complete Guide
Macadamia is a moderate nut tree to grow, needing full sun with regular, then hardy watering.
We get asked about macadamia often enough that it's worth setting out the full picture here, beyond what fits on our printable card.
Nut anatomy
A green husk splits open at ripeness to release the true nut: a hard shell protecting the kernel inside. Nuts drop naturally when ready — collect promptly to beat rats and possums to them.
Planting Macadamia
Method — plant at the same depth as the nursery pot; stake young trees against wind. Soil — deep, well-drained, slightly acidic. Avoid waterlogged or shallow sites. Timing — plant in spring in warm, sheltered spots in subtropical to temperate zones.
Ongoing Care
The key things to get right:
- Water deeply for the first 2–3 years while roots establish.
- Feed lightly with a balanced, low-phosphorus native fertiliser in spring and autumn.
- Mulch well beyond the drip line to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Prune only to shape in early years — mature trees need little pruning.
Common Problems
A few things matter most here:
- Nut borer — larvae damage developing nuts; collect fallen nuts promptly.
- Rats and possums — favour the nuts; harvest fallen nuts often.
- Husk spot — fungal spotting in humid weather; clear fallen debris.
- Wind damage — brittle young wood; stake and shelter early on.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — nuts drop naturally when ripe, over several weeks in autumn–winter. Method — collect fallen nuts from the ground regularly to avoid rot and pests. Curing — dry in-husk nuts 3–4 weeks in a warm, airy spot before cracking. Storage — shelled kernels keep months airtight in a cool spot, longer frozen.
That's the full picture behind macadamia. The printable A4 version of this guide — with the quick-reference gauges and diagram in one page — is available on the main guide page below.