Cashew is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 12 and stands up to deer. Its winter flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, even though the nuts are the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
10-12
pH Range
3.8-8.7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Cashew on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether cashew actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score cashew against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Cashew is
Cashew grows as a perennial and reaches around 35 feet at maturity. It blooms pink in winter. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Cashew
Cashew grows in USDA zones 10 through 12. Cashew does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 3.8 to 8.7, on well-drained ground. It needs around 5,000 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 190 frost-free days, and about 0 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
10-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
3.8 - 8.7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
41°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
5000+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
35 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
0+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
190+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set cashew in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Cashew prefers pH 3.8 to 8.7 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — cashew is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)
Cashew offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Before you harvest cashew, know your soil
Anything you grow to eat takes up what's in the ground it grows in, so it's worth knowing what's documented near you before you plant cashew for food. Our free screen reads 9 federal source types across roughly 1.8M indexed sites and shows which sit near your address and which way they drain. It's a screening estimate from public records and proximity — not a soil test — so a nearby record means a soil test is worth it, not that your soil is unsafe.
Where Cashew thrives
Cashew is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 12. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–12·Where Cashew growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Cashew can grow in these states:
See if Cashew will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cashew actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Cashew in my zone?
Cashew grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Cashew?
Set cashew out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Cashew need?
Cashew needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Cashew need?
Cashew prefers soil pH 3.8 to 8.7, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Cashew attract pollinators?
Yes — cashew's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees.
Is Cashew safe for pets?
Cashew is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)