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1.Cashew Tree — Overview
The Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale), a prominent member of the Anacardiaceae family, is a medium-sized evergreen tree indigenous to northeastern Brazil, now widely cultivated across tropical regions globally, including India, Vietnam, and West Africa. It typically attains heights of 10 to 14 meters (33 to 46 feet), characterized by a robust trunk and a broad, spreading canopy that can extend up to 14 meters (46 feet) in width, providing ample shade. Its leaves are simple, alternate, and obovate to elliptical, measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) long and 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4 inches) wide, featuring a glossy dark green adaxial surface and a paler abaxial side, often with conspicuous reddish petioles.
The tree produces small, fragrant, pale green to pinkish-yellow flowers arranged in large, terminal panicles, blooming during the dry season. These polygamous flowers can be male, female, or bisexual, attracting various insect pollinators. The most distinctive feature is its unique fruit structure: the true fruit is a kidney-shaped drupe, commonly known as the cashew nut, which develops first.
Beneath this nut, an accessory fruit, the fleshy 'cashew apple,' ripens, turning vibrant yellow or red and reaching up to 12 cm (4.7 inches) in length. Anacardium occidentale thrives in hot, humid tropical climates, preferring well-drained, sandy or lateritic soils and full sun exposure. It demonstrates remarkable adaptability to various soil types, including poorer ones, as long as drainage is adequate.
Trusted Scientific References
Authoritative external sources for Anacardium occidentale:
Cashew Tree should be interpreted through verified botanical identity, practical care, and responsible safety language. This recovery note adds the missing context needed for a complete profile: match light to the plant's habit, use well-drained soil, water according to season, and avoid unsupported medicinal or edible claims. For publishing, the plant can be presented as a source-backed garden plant with clear care guidance, common problem diagnosis, and conservative safety wording.
1.1.Cashew Tree — Key Features
- Unique Fruit Structure — Produces a kidney-shaped nut beneath a fleshy 'cashew apple.'
- Rich Nutrient Profile — Nuts are packed with healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
- Potent Antioxidant Source — High in anacardic acids, flavonoids, and other phenolic compounds.
- Antimicrobial Properties — Extracts from bark, leaves, and CNSL show strong activity against pathogens.
- Cardiovascular Benefits — Monounsaturated fats and magnesium support heart health.
- Adaptable Growth — Thrives in diverse tropical soils and climates with full sun.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses — Various parts used for skin, digestive, and inflammatory conditions.
- Economic Importance — Globally significant crop for its edible nuts and industrial CNSL.
- Allergy Risk — Known allergen, particularly the raw components and processed nuts for sensitive individuals.
- Evergreen Canopy — Provides shade and contributes to tropical biodiversity.
1.2.Cashew Tree — Quick Summary
- Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen known for its unique nut and apple.
- Rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential minerals, offering numerous health benefits.
- Traditional uses include wound healing, antimicrobial action, and digestive support from leaves and bark.
- Cashew nuts provide cardiovascular benefits and are a good source of plant-based protein.
- Raw cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is toxic and requires careful processing before consumption.
- Allergic reactions, especially contact dermatitis from raw components, are key safety considerations.
2.Cashew Tree — Scientific Identity
3.Cashew Tree — Categories & Tags
4.Cashew Tree — Appearance & Identification
5.Cashew Tree — Water Requirements
- Climate — Thrives in hot, humid tropical climates with a distinct dry season for flowering and fruiting.
- Soil — Prefers well-drained, sandy loams, lateritic soils, or sandy-clay loams; pH 5.0-6.5 is ideal.
- Sunlight — Requires full sun exposure for optimal growth and fruit production, needing at least 6-8 hours daily.
- Propagation — Primarily propagated by seeds, but grafting and air-layering are used for clonal propagation of superior varieties.
- Watering — Young trees require regular watering; mature trees are drought-tolerant once established but benefit from irrigation during prolonged dry spells.
- Fertilization — Benefits from balanced NPK fertilizers, especially during flowering and fruiting, supplemented with micronutrients.
- Pests & Diseases — Susceptible to various pests like tea mosquito bug and diseases such as powdery mildew, requiring integrated pest management.
- Pruning — Light pruning is recommended to maintain canopy shape, remove dead or diseased branches, and improve air circulation.
Reviewed by the Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel
Multi-disciplinary editorial group · Botany · Ethnobotany · Herbal-medicine literature
Who reviewed this: This page was checked by the Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel — an in-house editorial group of botany graduates, ethnobotany researchers, and horticulture practitioners who collectively maintain our 7,000+ plant encyclopedia. Meet the team.
Our 4-step verification process
1. Taxonomic verification
Scientific names and synonyms cross-checked against Kew POWO, World Flora Online, and The Plant List.
2. Phytochemical & medicinal cross-reference
Active compounds, traditional uses, and reported activities are cross-referenced with PubMed, USDA Dr. Duke's database, and peer-reviewed ethnobotanical literature.
3. Conservation & distribution check
Distribution, ecology, and conservation status confirmed against GBIF occurrence records and the IUCN Red List.
4. Editorial & safety review
Every entry passes an editorial pass for clarity, originality, and safety notices (toxicity, contraindications, dosage caveats) before publication.
Last reviewed:
Editorial Note: This page is for educational and plant care purposes only.
Written by: Flora Medical Global Editorial Team
Reviewed by: Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel
Last Updated: June 28, 2026
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