Description

Also known as Pachira glabra, Malabar Chestnut and also commonly sold as a ‘lucky’ house plant under the name ‘money tree’.

Max grow height: 5-10m

It is a medium-sized fast growing evergreen tree grown in many parts of the world. It is grown mainly for its edible nuts but also makes a suitable potted indoor plant or outdoor specimen. The large white flowers are very fragrant, another reason to have them in the garden. It is a stunning-looking tree with a distinctive swollen base trunk and is a beautiful landscape tree or feature tree. The leaves are large, divided and bright green. The flowers are very ornamental, 10 cm long, cream ‘shaving brush’ style flowers.

The seedpods containing the nuts change colour from green to brown when ripe, usually toward the end of summer. The seeds can be eaten either raw or roasted. When roasted or fried in oil they taste like a cross between macadamias and chestnuts, raw the taste is more subtle. They keep for months in a cool, dry place. They can also be ground and used as a flour substitute when baking bread. This tree could seriously challenge the macadamia, the nuts are so good.