How to Grow Argan Tree
Argania spinosa
The argan tree is an extraordinarily drought-tolerant, long-lived evergreen native to semi-arid Morocco. Plant in full sun in very well-drained, even poor soil — it thrives where other trees fail. Water sparingly once established; overwatering and waterlogging are its main threats. Protect young trees from frost below -6°C. Almost no pruning is needed. Slow-growing and patient — expect decades before it reaches a mature size, but it will reward you with handsome, thorny, olive-like foliage and small olive-shaped fruit.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
No regular feeding needed. On very poor soils, apply a light balanced feed in spring. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers.
Watch For
- Scale insects
- Sooty mould (from scale honeydew)
- Root rot (from waterlogging)
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, no shade tolerance
Requires maximum sun exposure year-round. Native to open semi-desert; does not tolerate shade and will decline in shaded positions.
Watering
Very low; drought-tolerant once established
One of the most drought-tolerant trees in cultivation. Once established (2-3 years), supplemental irrigation is rarely needed except in extreme prolonged drought. Excellent drainage is essential — waterlogging causes root rot.
Fertilizing
Not needed on most soils
Thrives on poor, sandy, and alkaline soils with no fertiliser. On very impoverished soils, a light balanced feed in spring is acceptable. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers that promote soft, disease-prone growth.
Pruning
Minimal; formative pruning in first years only
Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter. Avoid hard pruning — slow-growing species regenerate poorly from old wood. A light formative prune in the first 3-5 years to build a good framework is all that is required.
Spacing
8-10 m between trees
Allow 8-10 m spacing for full crown development. In traditional Moroccan agroforestry, trees are spaced 8-15 m apart to allow intercropping underneath.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 1000 cm |
| Row spacing | 1000 cm |
| Mature height | 1000 cm |
| Mature spread | 1000 cm |
