Brazil Nut — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Bertholletia excelsa |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 30–90 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 23.9–32.2 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 3650–5475 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 1219.2–1828.8 |
| Mature height (cm) | 1524–3048 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 762–1219.2 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 11–12 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | High |
| Sowing method | Transplant |
Growing directions
Plant in full sun in deep, well-drained, fertile, moist to wet tropical soil; Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is one of the largest trees of the Amazon rainforest, reaching 150 feet tall, and requires 10–20 years from seed to first fruiting in optimal conditions. The pods (actually large, woody capsules weighing up to 5 lbs) each contain 8–24 seeds (the 'nuts') and fall from height, posing a safety hazard — harvest sites require protective gear. The Brazil nut ecosystem depends entirely on the orchid bee (Eulaema sp.) for pollination and the agouti (a large rodent) for seed dispersal, making it nearly impossible to grow commercially outside its native ecosystem. Trees in south Florida and Hawaii produce limited fruit but are grown primarily as impressive specimen trees; the heavy, dense, rot-resistant wood is also extremely valuable.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0