Atherton Almond - Athertonia Diversifolia

Code: 20_plant
Fruit Description: Atherton Almonds are rich delicious nuts, similar to macadamias. They are dark blue, thick and woody, about the size of a golf ball. Inside the hard shell is a large edible kernel. The flavour is sweet and the texture crunchy.
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows 10 metres high by 6 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Uses: Eat the shelled nuts raw or roasted. Use atherton almonds in any recipe where you can use macadamias or other nuts, such as biscuits, slices, cakes, breads, soups, salads, stuffings, desserts, sauces (eg satay or pesto). Crush the nuts to make a paste to spread on toast or sandwiches. The handsome leaves are used in floral arrangements.
Flowers : The Atherton almond flowers March to June. The flowers occur in long sprays and are cream and brown.
Growing Conditions: The Atherton Almond is a lovely ornamental tree which grows to about 10 metres high. It has very large lobed or entire leaves up to 600 mm long. When the tree is mature in its natural environment, it has buttress roots. It makes a lovely garden or park specimen.
Pollination Requirements: Self-Pollinating.
Harvest Time: The nuts are ready to harvest in Spring. Collect them from the ground.
Special Features: It is called diversifolia because different shaped leaves occur on the same tree.
Plant Relatives: Macadamia integrifolia, Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia, Hicksbeachia pilosa, Athertonia diversifolia
Plant Origin: Atherton almond occurs naturally on the Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland.
Plant Family: Protaceae