If you have the space (and a little bit of patience), I highly recommend growing nut trees in your backyard garden or homestead orchard.
While they do take some time to establish, once they do you'll be getting generous yields year after year with little maintenance at maturity.
When compared to growing annuals, fast growing nut trees sequester more carbon and improve the health of the soil. If you're looking to make your garden more regenerative or integrating permaculture principles into your backyard, nut trees are a must.
In this guide to trees that produce nuts, you'll learn:
The most cold hardy nut tree is the Siberian Pine Nut, which is hardy to a chilly zone 1! The Korean PineNut is hardy to zone 2.
The best tree for tropical zones in the US is the Cashew, which also produces nuts at the youngest age (around 4 years old).
The nut trees that can grow in zone 3 are Pine Nut, Bladdernut, Ginkgo, Hickory
The nut trees that are hardy to zone 4 include Pine Nut, Bladdernut, Ginkgo, Hickory, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Oak, Northern Pecan, and Walnut. Be sure the you're checking the specific varieties of nut trees for their unique cold hardiness.
The nut trees that grow well in zone 5 are Almond, Pine Nut, Bladdernut, Ginkgo, Hickory, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Oak, Northern Pecan, and Walnut. Be sure the you're checking the specific varieties of nut trees for their unique cold hardiness.
In zone 6, you have a wide range of nut trees that you can grow, including Almond, Pine Nut, Bladdernut, Ginkgo, Hickory, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Oak, Northern Pecan, and Walnut. Be sure the you're checking the specific varieties of nut trees for their unique cold hardiness.
The nut trees that grow well in zone 7 are Monkey Puzzle, Almond, Pine Nut, Bladdernut, Ginkgo, Hickory, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Oak, Northern Pecan, and Walnut.
In zone 8, you have the widest range of nut trees that you can grow: Pine Nuts, Bladdernuts, Ginkgo, Hickory, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Oak, Northern and Southern Pecan, Walnut, Almond, Monkey Puzzel, and Pistachio all grow in your zone!
If you live in zone 9, be sure to make sure your particular location meets the chill hour requirements for your particular variety of tree.
In general, these trees with nuts grow well in zone 9: Pine Nut, Ginkgo, Hazelnut, Oak, Southern Pecan, Almond, Monkey Puzzle, and Pistachio.
In zone 10, some sources note that you might be able to grow Cashews, so that might be worth looking into.
You can also grow Oak, Pistachio, and Monkey Puzzle trees.
If you're in a cooler zone 10, you may also be able to get a yield from almond trees and Southern Pecans.
In zones 11-12, you have the options of many tropical trees, including Cashews and Monkey Puzzle.
The answer depends on the type of tree. The fastest maturing nut tree that grows in the United States is the Cashew, which starts to bear nuts at 4 years.
Most nut trees start to provide a harvest by year 6.
The trees with nuts that take longer to give you a harvest are walnuts, pecans, and pine nuts.
However, Monkey Puzzle trees take at least 20 years to get to your first harvest, and Hickory trees require the most patience with a 30 year wait on nuts.
The information here will vary heavily depending on the age of the nut tree and if it is being grown in optimal conditions for the particular variety.
Walnuts and Chestnuts provide the highest potential yield, where yields of 50 pounds or more per tree are common.
Pecans and Oak trees are next on the list, with around 40 pounds of harvest per tree each year.
Pistachio trees yield around 35 pounds of pistachios per tree.
The yield of one almond tree depends heavily on how much water it receives. Almond trees that have received less water might yield 20 pounds, but an almond tree that has received over 70 gallons of water can yield 60 or more pounds of almonds.
Pine nuts, Monkey Puzzle, and Hazelnuts are lower yielding, but with Hazelnuts it's important to remember that they are smaller trees.
Sources for the above charts include the nurseries and websites listed below, and also: Wikifarmer, University of Arizona, Oregon State University, and Chestnut Hill Tree Farm.
Information for the charts and the tree profiles below, outside of my personal experience has been gathered from these amazing nurseries: food forest nursery, Edible Acres, Planting Justice, Burnt Ridge Nursery, Raintree Nursery, Food Forest Nursery, Agroforestry Research Trust, Plants for a Future, Experimental Farm Network, One Green World, and Peaceful Valley Organics
Almond Tree Growing Zones: 5-9, although usually 8-9 is preferable | Native region: Asia | Average height: 10-20ft | Years from seed to harvest: 4-7 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 20-60 lbs | Need a cross-pollinator: Usually
Almonds are a delicious crop, with high yields once trees are mature. However, the almond industry in California causes a lot of environmental harm, from heavy water use to synthetic chemicals, sprays and fertilizers. Additionally, the Guardian details how thousands of bee hives are brought into almond orchards for pollination, and the stress from moving them can cause issues with illness and disease within the hive.
The good news is that if you’re growing almonds in your backyard, you can select varieties that will suit your climate and growing conditions, need less synthetic inputs, and overall, less water.
One thing I noticed in my research of almond trees is that while California uses a lot of water to grow this crop (1 gallon of water per individual almond, according to Mother Jones), overall this tree is actually drought resistant.
However, as a publication from the University of California notes, the more you offer water to the tree, the bigger your harvest is. Trees can make it through years with 8 inches of water, but production peaks at 54 inches.
With the demand for almonds increasing, farmers in California are trying to maximize yields to boost their income.
But for the average gardener, you don’t need to use that much water once the tree is established in order to get a decent yield from your tree. Recent studies have shown that on a large scale, micro-irrigation instead of overhead spraying reduces water output by 33%. If you grow your own almonds with sustainable practices, you aren’t contributing to the environmental harm caused by almonds and instead will be providing a carbon sink in your yard.
All-in-One Almond is a self-fertile semi-dwarf variety for zones 5-9.
Garden Prince Dwarf Almond grows to 12 feet tall but can be pruned to 8 feet, and is better suited for warm climates as it is cold hardy to zone 8.
Halls Hardy can survive temperatures of negative 20 degrees F.
The Titan Almond will ripen down to zone 5, and blooms late to avoid frost season. However, Raintree Nursery cautions that Titan is susceptible to brown rot and fungal issues if your springs are wet.
Javid’s Iranian Almond is also hardy to zone 5 and can be grown even in the Northeastern United States, according to Shelterwood Forest Farm. This variety is rot resistant and would not need spraying as they are more disease resistant.
According to Planting Justice Nursery, Butte Almond is the most productive variety
Bladdernut Tree Growing Zones: 3-8 | Native Region: Eastern US, Eurasia | Average Height: 16 ft
Bladdernut is a tree that produces beautiful flowers and then interesting nuts in paper ballon-type husks. Most sources I have checked, such as Agroforestry Research Trust, say that the nuts are edible and taste like pistachios. They also share that this is a tree hardy to -4 F, making this a great substitute for a pistachio lover who lives in a cold climate.
Rock Bridge Trees calls attention to the fact that the blooms of Bladdernut are a magnet for bees and butterflies, with their bell-like shape.
Cashew Tree Growing Zones: 11-12 | Native region: South America |Years from seed to harvest: 4 | Need a cross-pollinator: No
Cashews grow well for those who are in the tropics, where day time temperatures don’t drop below 50 degrees. Sow Exotic mentions that cashew trees are naturally drought tolerant once they have established in their growing spot. They are evergreen.
Sow Exotic also cautions that the cashew nut should be harvested with care, as its hull is coated in a caustic oil that will harm skin if not harvested with gloves; long sleeves and goggles are also recommended for safety.
Chestnut Tree Growing Zones: 4-8 | Native region: Europe, America, Asia | Average height: 35 ft - 80 ft | Years from seed to harvest: 5 years | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 50 lbs | Need a cross-pollinator: Yes
Look for varieties resistant to: chestnut blight fungus, especially if you are anywhere but the west coast US. Also check for resistance to blight, gall wasp, and root rot.
Chestnuts are gorgeous tall trees with interesting spiky green husks protecting the chestnut that you’ll find inside.
Chestnuts are different from most other nuts in that they are not a great source of protein and fat, but instead are high in carbohydrates. Because of this, ground chestnuts can be made into a gluten-free flour substitute.
In terms of sustainability, chestnuts are known to be drought tolerant once they are established, making them perfect for those in drier climates. Since they grow very fast, they are able to sequester more carbon faster than other slower growing hardwood trees..
Due to their grain-like nutritional value with their carbon-storing perennial benefits of being a tree, chestnuts are a part of many environmental projects, such as Build Soil and Breadtree Farms. The Build Soil Wiki shares that 1 chestnut tree can yield half of the average grain consumption of 1 person.
Raintree Nursery shares that if you buy a pollen sterile variety of chestnut, they will produce larger nuts but not be a good pollinator for other trees.
Dwarf Chestnut varieties available:
The Allegheny Chinkapin variety grows 15 feet or shorter, however it should be noted that it is not resistant to chestnut blight fungus.
Best Chestnut variety for cold climates:
While hardy to zones 4-8 and truly thrives in regions with warm summers, the Colossal Chestnut has been reported to live through -28 degree F temperatures.
Best Chestnut variety for dry climates:
In general, chestnuts are very drought tolerant when they are established. Raintree Nursery recommends offering chestnut trees regular watering, especially in areas with dry summers, for the first 2 years your tree is in the ground.
Types of Chestnut Trees:
American Chestnut trees are usually quite tall and reach over 80 feet in height.
Chinese Chestnut is a shorter variety that reaches 40 ft and yields nuts that are larger than most other varieties, according to Raintree Nursery.
Horse Chestnuts are toxic, never eat them!
Ginkgo Tree Growing Zones: 3—9 | Native region: Asia | Average height: 40 ftYears from seed to harvest: 5 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 30 lbs | Need a cross-pollinator: 2 or more trees, male and female, unless specifically noted as being self-fertile.
Harvest and husk gingko nuts before the husk starts to wither to avoid their unpleasant smell.
Dwarf Ginkgo varieties available:
Marieken Ginkgo males can be grown in a container and reach up to 4 feet tall with a width of 6 feet, available for purchase at Burnt Ridge Nursery.
Most productive Gingko variety:
From what I can tell, the Salem Lady Female Ginkgo is very productive - as long as it has a male pollinator, of course.
Hazelnut Tree Growing Zones: 4-9 | Native region: United States, Europe | Average height: 10-12ft | Years from seed to harvest: 3-6 years | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 20lbs | Need a cross-pollinator: Yes, two varieties are needed
Look for varieties resistant to: Eastern Filbert Blight, big bud mite
Hazelnuts (aka Filberts) are really beautiful trees, or perhaps more specifically, tall bushes. Their leaves are soft and fuzzy, and their catkins offer pollen to bees and the like early in the Spring.
We have Beaked Hazelnuts growing wild on our property, as well as the Yamhill variety in our orchard.
The Beaked Hazelnuts provide food for the squirrels, and offer great coppicing capabilities, especially since many stems grow from each plant.
Edible Acres adds that these plants are great for offering windbreak protection, or for privacy in a hedgerow.
Dwarf Hazelnut varieties available:
Best Hazelnut variety for cold climates:
Most productive Hazelnut variety:
Hickory Tree Growing Zones: 3/4 - 8 | Native region: Eastern United States | Average height: 100ft | Years from seed to harvest: 20-40
Hickory trees are native to the United States and are an incredibly long-lived tree. Burnt Ridge notes that Hickory wood is prized for furniture making. According to Edible Acres, these trees can provide food, nourishment, shade, and beauty for 10 generations.
They are definitely an investment for the future, as Food Forest Nursery notes that they can take at least 20 years to produce nuts from planting.
Hickory varieties of Special Interest:
Shagbark hickory: Edible Acres Nursery sings the praises of the Shagbark Hickory, sharing that it is a great tree for lumber, nuts, and works well in a variety of soil conditions. Furthermore, they can store for up to a decade if kept cool and dry.
Monkey Puzzle Growing Zones: 7-11 | Native region: South America | Average height: 30 ftYears from seed to harvest: 10-30 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 20+ lbsNeed a cross-pollinator: Yes, male and female
Monkey Puzzle tree is an evergreen tree with very interesting “leaves”. Plants for a Future shares that the seed can be eaten raw or cooked, and has a texture of cashew with the flavor of pine nuts.
They are available on Experimental Farm Network’s site, where they share that the trees will produce for a thousand years!
Oak Tree Growing Zones: varies greatly depending on variety | Native region: North America, Europe, Asia | Average height: 20-40 ft, Live Oaks are 70-100ft | Years from seed to harvest: 5 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: depends on variety
Live Oaks make the top of the list for carbon sequestration potential of any tree, making them a great choice if you have a lot of space in your yard. As a bonus, Live Oaks are evergreen, and 1 tree can produce 100 lbs of acorns! Zone 8.
It is important to understand that acorns have tannins that need to be processed out of the acorns before eating.
Dwarf varieties: The Huckleberry Oak can be 2-4 feet when mature, but still makes dark brown acorns after its established. Hardy to zone 6 or lower, according to One Green World.
Evergreen varieties: Live Oak, Sadler Oak, Emory Oak, Turbinella Oak
Best for eating: One Green World shares that the Emory Oak Tree produces acorns with no tannins, so they can be eaten fresh without any lengthy preparation. Hardy to zone 8, 50 lbs of acorns per tree.
Pecan Tree Growing Zones: 4-9 for Northern Pecans; 6-9 for Southern Pecans | Native region: North America | Average height: 70-100 ftYears from seed to harvest: 10-12 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 30lbs
Pecan types:
Northern Pecan Trees will still need heat in the summer to ripen, but are hardy down to zone 4. Burnt Ridge has the Kanza Northern Pecan available hardy to zone 5.
Southern Pecan Trees are great for warmer climates and are hardy down to zone 6. They still will need 600-800 chill hours, according to Food Forest Nursery.
Pine Nut Growing Zones: 7-9 | Native region: Europe, Asia, North America | Average height: 60-80 ft | Years from seed to harvest: 10-15 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 20+ lbs | Need a cross-pollinator: No, most are self-fertile
Best Pine nut variety for dry climate: Gray Pine is native to the Western United States and are drought tolerant.
Best Pine nut variety for cold climates:The Pinyon Stone Pine is a US Native that is hardy to zone 4, and will survive through -40 degree temperatures. It can be purchased at One Green World.
Korean Stone Pine Nut can be planted down to zone 2.
But the real winner for cold hardiness is the Siberian Stone Pine, which can thrive down to zone 1!
Pistachio Tree Growing Zones: 8-10 | Native region: Western Asia | Average height: 30 ft | Years from seed to harvest: 5-7 | Average yield from 1 mature tree: 20-50 lbs. | Need a cross-pollinator: Yes, male and female.
Fast Growing Trees shares that pistachio does well in hot dry summers with long cold winters, which makes this nut a great option for those who live in the high desert regions of the United States.
On the flip side, they note that pistachios do not like humid weather.
Walnut Tree Growing Zones: 4-8 | Native region: United States | Average height: 40-70 ft | Average Yield: 50+ lbsYears from seed to harvest: 7-12 | Need a cross-pollinator: For larger yields, yes
Edible Acres notes that walnuts can store for 6 or more years if kept in a cool dry space, which is pretty incredible in terms of long-term food storage.
Best Walnut variety for cold climates:
Ambassador Walnut is a hybrid variety from Poland that is hardy down to zone 4. It’s self-fertile too, according to Raintree Nursery.
Most productive Walnut variety:
Chandler Black Walnut is a very productive variety that does well in zones 4-8.
Types of Walnuts:
Black walnut:
A beautiful tall tree that offers exceptionally fine lumber and wood. According to Edible Acres, the Juglone chemical is very high in this variety of Walnut, which hinders surrounding plant growth. They are not recommended as part of a food forest but instead it’s best to isolate them.
On the flip side, Burnt Ridge shares that Black Walnut have twice the amount of protein as English Walnuts, so from a nutritional standpoint, they would be great to add to your homestead.
One Black Walnut tree can yield more than 100 lbs once mature.
English Walnut (Carpathian Walnut):
Emits very little juglone, so this variety of walnut can be planted amongst other types of plants. Hardy to zone 6/5.
White Walnut (Butternuts):
Burnt Ridge Nursery notes that Butternuts are a great option for colder climates, as they are hardy to zone 3 and set bloom later in the season to hopefully prevent frost damage.
Heartnut (Japanese Walnut):
Yields beautiful heart shaped nuts, Heartnuts thrive in zones 5-9. They will reach 40-60 feet tall, and take 8-12 years to produce nuts.
Buartnut (combination of Butternut and Heartnut):
The Agroforestry Reesarch Trust in the UK shares that the Buartnut is a cold tolerant high yielding tree, with nuts that are easy to harvest.
While these heights of nut trees are based on standard varieties, there are some nut trees that have dwarf varieties or smaller options. Also, sometimes pruning practices can keep trees smaller if desired.
The best nut trees for a small garden would be the Prince Almond, Hazelnut, Huckleberry Oak, and the Allegheny Chinkapin Chestnut.
