Tropical Almond

[DoomsDave]

Howdyall:

Saw this tree, with reddish leaves that was called a tropical almond, quite striking.

So, will it grow in California?

Swooning fodder in any case . . . . .

dave

[ariscott]

Is it also called Indian Almond (Terminalia cattapa)? Not sure whether it will grow there.. but surely a very nice tree... I got one growing, quite well until the bettles attacked it   It is coming back though..

Regards, Ari

[aussiearoids]

Also called the Beach Almond, very common along the coast here , so may need very well drained soil Dave .

Might be a little tender for you but well worth a try .

1 t 2 p's Ari , isn't google clever ! Terminalia catappa,

I bought tasty sweets made from the fruits of this tree mixed with palm sugar . Made by kids on Bunaken Island [a popular dive spot near Manado , North Sulawesi]

[fastfeat]

Dave--

I doubt it will like Mediterranean climates, but if you an get seeds, it'd be worth a try. If nothing else, grow in a big pot and keep it dry during the Winter.

[Wai`anae Steve]

Common here on O`ahu beaches.  Kind of messy, dropping big leaves and fruit when mature.

[ariscott]

The fruit/seed is the reason I planted them. Apparently black cockatoos love them... not that you have them over there.

Regards, Ari

[DoomsDave]

(fastfeat @ Dec. 29 2007,21:30)

QUOTE

Dave--

I doubt it will like Mediterranean climates, but if you an get seeds, it'd be worth a try. If nothing else, grow in a big pot and keep it dry during the Winter.

Oh, dear, keeping dry in the winter . . . . .

Answers my question.

Hmm.  Maybe plant it on a sandy mound?

dave

[mnorell]

Dave--

Try the sandy mound treatment, against a south or west-facing wall. I had bad experience with a small one years ago in L.A. (Los Feliz), it grew poorly in the cool summer and croaked pretty quickly into winter...but I bought one earlier this year and it grew well in the heat and humidity here, in a 5g pot with a 50% sand, 50% Miracle-Gro potting mix combo. I accidentally let it dry out in November and it dropped most of its leaves, and left it out down to 32.1F under canopy a month ago, which didn't seem to hurt it one bit. It dealt with the early fall quite well, actually. I now have it in the greenhouse.

I remember reading that after one of the big South Florida freezes (I think '58) it was noted that the Terminalia catappa around Miami actually did quite well compared to even endemic vegetation. So I think they can handle a brief frost but really dislike long, cool, wet periods. But something tells me you could get one going if it has some size to it and has a very special position with reflected heat and very fast-draining, sandy soil. But give it room, it's a very broad-spreading tree!

[DoomsDave]

(mnorell @ Dec. 30 2007,15:28)

QUOTE

Dave--

Try the sandy mound treatment, against a south or west-facing wall. I had bad experience with a small one years ago in L.A. (Los Feliz), it grew poorly in the cool summer and croaked pretty quickly into winter...but I bought one earlier this year and it grew well in the heat and humidity here, in a 5g pot with a 50% sand, 50% Miracle-Gro potting mix combo. I accidentally let it dry out in November and it dropped most of its leaves, and left it out down to 32.1F under canopy a month ago, which didn't seem to hurt it one bit. It dealt with the early fall quite well, actually. I now have it in the greenhouse.

I remember reading that after one of the big South Florida freezes (I think '58) it was noted that the Terminalia catappa around Miami actually did quite well compared to even endemic vegetation. So I think they can handle a brief frost but really dislike long, cool, wet periods. But something tells me you could get one going if it has some size to it and has a very special position with reflected heat and very fast-draining, sandy soil. But give it room, it's a very broad-spreading tree!

Thanks for the 411!

Oh, yeah, they can get big.  I saw one that was about 50' tall and about as wide on my first day in Miami . . . . .

dave

[fiji jim]

They grow everywhere here in littoral areas.

I have used them in landscaping near the beach as a shade tree and they are fast and tough but a bit messy when they seed prolifically and also the semi-deciduous habits of dropping large leaves means some raking to keep any lawn under them. So fairly high maintenance.

Local kids go for the almonds but they are only small, hard to open  nuts compared to the real almond we know.

The leaves are also used as a local medicine.

[Dave-Vero]

And I remember plenty of them from my middle school years in Puerto Rico.  Fallen fruits were messy.  They're all over beach areas around Hanalei, Kauai.

[happ]

I fell in love with the tropical almonds in Cancun but was discouraged trying to grow them in California due to our normally wet winters

[Trópico]

Delicious!

[MattyB]

Hey, I think I got a picture of one of these when I was on Oahu earlier this year.  I didn't know what it was until now, thanks.  Sorta reminded me of Ficus lyrata.

[Missi]

Reviving this thread to chat more about Terminalia catappa! I just ordered two seedlings. The naturally shed, naturally dried leaves are used as water conditioner for betta fish (a.k.a. Siamese fighting fish). The tannins affect the pH of the water and also improve the fishes' health and reproductive ability. I have a type of betta fish that has extremely long, thin, fragile fins that are prone to fin rot, and adding an "Indian almond leaf" or "IAL", as they're called in aquaculture, will remedy that. Anyone can order Indian almond leaves online, but the leaves lose their effectiveness after being fallen from the tree over 6 months. Also, the best quality are the ones that are naturally shed from the tree, not prematurely cut. However some unscrupulous sellers will cut them and iron them to make them look older/naturally shed, all the while stating that they were naturally shed leaves. Also, ordering them from other countries, you do not know if they've been treated with systemic insecticides (which can harm the fish and invertebrates in your aquarium), etc. so I opted to grow my own! I do occasionally get hard frosts on my property in inland Naples, so this will be an experiment. Perhaps I'll put one in the ground and keep one in a pot  All that being said, I also appreciate this Terminalia catappa's visual attractiveness. 

[Really full garden]

21 minutes ago, Missi said:

Reviving this thread to chat more about Terminalia catappa! I just ordered two seedlings. The naturally shed, naturally dried leaves are used as water conditioner for betta fish (a.k.a. Siamese fighting fish). The tannins affect the pH of the water and also improve the fishes' health and reproductive ability. I have a type of betta fish that has extremely long, thin, fragile fins that are prone to fin rot, and adding an "Indian almond leaf" or "IAL", as they're called in aquaculture, will remedy that. Anyone can order Indian almond leaves online, but the leaves lose their effectiveness after being fallen from the tree over 6 months. Also, the best quality are the ones that are naturally shed from the tree, not prematurely cut. However some unscrupulous sellers will cut them and iron them to make them look older/naturally shed, all the while stating that they were naturally shed leaves. Also, ordering them from other countries, you do not know if they've been treated with systemic insecticides (which can harm the fish and invertebrates in your aquarium), etc. so I opted to grow my own! I do occasionally get hard frosts on my property in inland Naples, so this will be an experiment. Perhaps I'll put one in the ground and keep one in a pot  All that being said, I also appreciate this Terminalia catappa's visual attractiveness. 

This is very interesting. At the beach these trees grow everywhere and the seeds are dispersed by birds ,so sprout everywhere. I actually like these trees more when grown in less tropical areas because at the onset of cool/cold nights the foliage changes colors to reds-purples.

I have seen beautiful Bettas for sale here,I will have to buy one now and try the almond leaf.

[Missi]

19 minutes ago, scottgt said:

This is very interesting. At the beach these trees grow everywhere and the seeds are dispersed by birds ,so sprout everywhere. I actually like these trees more when grown in less tropical areas because at the onset of cool/cold nights the foliage changes colors to reds-purples.

I have seen beautiful Bettas for sale here,I will have to buy one now and try the almond leaf.

Yes, please do! 

[Missi]

http://www.indianalmondleaves.com/aquariums.php

[Silas_Sancona]

Despite the reputation for being messy, I really liked these trees anytime I encountered specimens around Bradenton ( particularly a couple decent sized trees near Emerson Point), or while passing through the Glades on trips to and from Homestead. Fall or "cool season" color was a unique sight in a part of Florida where any sort of " autumn/ winter" color is rare. 

 

[Missi]

7 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Despite the reputation for being messy, I really liked these trees anytime I encountered specimens around Bradenton ( particularly a couple decent sized trees near Emerson Point), or while passing through the Glades on trips to and from Homestead. Fall or "cool season" color was a unique sight in a part of Florida where any sort of " autumn/ winter" color is rare. 

 

Oh wow, they survive in Bradenton? Maybe there's hope for mine then! 

[Missi]

Here are my two seedlings that arrived in the mail yesterday! Pay no mind to my sunburned P. pacifica seedlings... 

[Cindy Adair]

Consider this relative too:

Terminalia kaernbachii which is said to have the tastiest fruit of all. I won't argue. There are grafted ones here in PR like mine soon to be planted

 

so I am hoping for fruit in my lifetime. 

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Terminalia+kaernbachii