How to Grow Macadamia
Macadamia integrifolia
Grow macadamia in a heated greenhouse or large conservatory in the UK, maintaining a minimum of 10°C in winter. Give it the brightest position available with full sun and feed fortnightly with a balanced fertiliser including trace elements. Macadamia is very sensitive to waterlogging, so ensure excellent drainage and never let pots sit in water. It can take many years to fruit but makes an attractive evergreen foliage plant.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser containing trace elements (especially iron and zinc) from spring to autumn. Macadamia has sensitive roots — avoid over-feeding.
Watch For
- Scale insects (brown bumps, sticky honeydew)
- Mealybug (white cottony masses)
- Red spider mite (fine webbing in dry conditions)
- Phytophthora root rot (yellowing, collapse)
- Anthracnose (dark spots on leaves and nuts)
Track your Macadamia care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun, brightest position in heated greenhouse
Full sun in the brightest position available. A south-facing heated greenhouse or conservatory is ideal. Macadamia needs strong light to flower and set nuts.
💧 Watering
Regular watering, never waterlogged, reduce in winter
Water regularly during the growing season, keeping compost moist but never waterlogged. Macadamia is very sensitive to waterlogging. Reduce watering in winter.
🌱 Fertilizing
Balanced feed fortnightly with trace elements
Feed fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser from spring to autumn. Macadamia benefits from a feed containing trace elements, especially iron and zinc.
✂️ Pruning
Light spring pruning to shape, avoid heavy cuts
Prune lightly in spring to shape and remove dead or crossing branches. Macadamia can be kept compact with regular pruning but avoid heavy cuts on mature wood.
❄️ Overwintering
Heated greenhouse above 10°C, no frost tolerance
Keep in a heated greenhouse above 10°C. Macadamia tolerates brief cool spells but not frost. Reduce watering and stop feeding during winter.
Growing Tips
Excellent drainage essential
Macadamia is very sensitive to waterlogging. Use well-drained compost, ensure pots have adequate drainage holes, and never let them sit in water.
Feed with trace elements
Feed fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser that includes trace elements, especially iron and zinc, from spring to autumn.
Light pruning only
Prune lightly in spring to shape and remove dead or crossing branches. Avoid heavy cuts on mature wood as macadamia does not regenerate well from old wood.
Monitor greenhouse pests
Watch for scale insects and mealybug under glass. Introduce biological controls early before populations build up in the warm greenhouse environment.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or white bumps on stems and leaf undersides, sticky honeydew and sooty mould
- Wipe off with a cloth dipped in soapy water
- Introduce parasitic wasps as biological control under glass
- Spray with plant oil-based insecticide
Pest Mealybug
Identification: White cottony masses in leaf axils and on stems, sticky honeydew
- Dab with a cotton bud soaked in methylated spirit
- Introduce Cryptolaemus ladybird as biological control
- Spray with fatty acid or plant oil-based insecticide
Pest Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine webbing on leaf undersides, stippled yellowing leaves, tiny mites visible with a hand lens
- Increase humidity by misting regularly
- Introduce predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis
- Spray with fatty acid-based miticide
Disease Phytophthora Root Rot Phytophthora cinnamomi
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, wilting despite moist soil, dark mushy roots, plant collapse
Treatment: Remove from pot, trim rotten roots, repot in fresh free-draining compost. Reduce watering
Prevention: Use well-drained compost. Ensure pots have adequate drainage holes. Avoid waterlogging
Disease Anthracnose Colletotrichum spp.
Symptoms: Dark spots on leaves and developing nuts, premature nut drop
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves and nuts. Improve air circulation
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering. Ensure good ventilation in the greenhouse
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 900 cm |
| Row spacing | 1000 cm |
| Mature height | 700 cm |
| Mature spread | 500 cm |
Evergreen nut tree native to Australia. Hawaii is major commercial producer. Long-lived and productive for decades.
Log Macadamia in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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