Description of a Cashew Nut Tree

Warning

• The shell of the cashew nut contains urushiol which is a poison oak allergen that may cause dermatitis in sensitive people, according to Wayne's Word.

Uses

• Juice from the cashew apple, which contains cashew nuts, can be made into juice or fermented into wine, according to Purdue University. Wood from the cashew tree is used for furniture, boat building, packing cases and in the production of charcoal. Cashawa gum is used in pharmaceutical products as a substitute for gum arabic.

Size

• Cashew nut trees can grow to heights of up to 40 feet, according to Purdue University. Leaves of the cashew tree are obovate and reach 7 inches in length and 5 inches in width. Flowers of the cashew nut tree typically range in diameter from 3 to 7 inches.

Geography

• Cashew nut trees are found in tropical America, Brazil, Peru, Mexico and the West Indies, according to Purdue University. Cashew nut trees are rarely affected by diseases or pests. The cashew tree is native to northeastern Brazil, according to the University of Georgia. Thirty-two countries around the world commercially produce cashew nuts on over 7.5 million acres.

Considerations

• Cashew nut trees germinate poorly and slowly, according to Purdue University. New cashew seedlings are extremely difficult to transplant. No more than 250 cashew nut trees should be planted on 2 acres. Cashew nut trees will continue to produce nuts until they reach 30 years of age. Within a single year, cashew trees can produce as much as 100 lbs. of nuts. Worldwide, more than 4.6 billion lbs. of cashew nuts are produced each year. Cashew nuts are not produced commercially in the United States, according to the University of Georgia.

Quick Fact

• The top 10 commercial producers of cashew nuts include Vietnam, India, Nigeria, Brazil, Tanzania, Indonesia, Guinea-Bissau, Cote D’Ivoire, Mozambique and Benin, according to the University of Georgia.