Sow a fresh macadamia nut in the shell, set the micropyle to the side, keep the mix warm and barely moist, and do not expect the seedling to match the nut you ate.
Sow a fresh nut in the shell
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | A fresh nut still in the shell that sinks in water | Do not sow a naked kernel, a roasted nut, or a floater |
| Depth | About ½ to 1 inch deep in a deep pot of mix that drains, micropyle (white dot) facing the side | Do not bury it deep in a squat cup that cramps the taproot |
| Warmth | A warm, bright spot; mix moist but not wet | Do not keep the pot soggy, and do not let it dry to dust |
| Time | Weeks to a few months to show a shoot; years before nuts, if it nuts at all | Do not treat a seedling as a named orchard tree |
The kernel you eat will not sprout. You need a fresh macadamia nut still in its shell. [1] Nuts that sink, with a tight kernel, are the ones worth sowing. Set the white dot — the micropyle — to the side so the taproot can run down. [2] A seedling may take six or seven years to bear, and the nuts will not match the parent. [3] That is why named trees are grafted. [4]
Will a grocery macadamia grow?
Only if it is a fresh, unroasted nut still in the shell. A roasted kernel or a shelled snack nut will not sprout.
How to sow a macadamia seed
- Use a fresh nut in the shell. Skip roasted, salted, or shelled kernels.
- Drop it in a glass of water. Keep the ones that sink. Soak overnight in warm water if you like.
- Fill a deep pot with potting mix that drains. No fertilizer is needed in the sowing mix.
- Plant about ½ to 1 inch deep with the white dot on the shell facing the side.
- Set the pot in a warm, bright place. Keep the mix moist but not wet. A finger that comes out coated in mud means you overdid it.
- Wait. A shoot can take a few months. When several sets of leaves are on and roots fill the pot, move it to a larger pot or, in a frost-free yard, into the ground.
If you want named nuts instead of a surprise seedling, graft on How to Propagate Macadamia or buy a nursery tree and plant it on Planting Macadamia.
How long until a seed-grown macadamia bears?
Often six or seven years, sometimes longer, and the nuts may be poor. A grafted nursery tree is the faster crop.
Sow it while it is still fresh, then decide later whether you want a named tree from a graft instead.
FAQ
Can I sow in fall or spring?
Either is fine if the pot stays warm. Cold, wet mix rots the nut before it sprouts.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Australian Macadamias -
https://www.australian-macadamias.org/grow/growing-macadamias-from-seed/ - [2] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/nut-trees/macadamia/how-to-grow-macadamia-trees.htm - [3] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/macadamia-integrifolia/ - [4] University of Hawai‘i CTAHR -
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/F_N-47.pdf
This note is part of Macadamia Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors