Editing Macadamia (section)

== Cultivation ==
[[Image:Macadamia integrifolia, buds.jpg|thumb|''Macadamia integrifolia'' flowers]]

The macadamia tree is usually propagated by [[grafting]]. It does not begin to produce commercial quantities of seeds until it is 7–10 years old, but once established, it may continue bearing for over 100 years. Macadamias prefer fertile, well-drained soils, a rainfall of {{convert|1000|-|2000|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}, and temperatures not falling below {{convert|10|C|F|sigfig=1}} (although once established, they can withstand light frosts), with an optimum temperature of {{convert|25|C|F|sigfig=1}}. The roots are shallow, and trees can be blown down in storms; like most [[Proteaceae]], they are also susceptible to ''[[Phytophthora]]'' root disease. As of 2019, the macadamia nut is the most expensive nut in the world, which is attributed to the slow harvesting process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/macadamia-nuts-most-expensive-world-australia-hawaii-2019-3 |title=What makes macadamia nuts the most expensive nuts in the world, at $25 per pound |last=Kim |first=Irene Anna |date=6 March 2019 |website=Business Insider |access-date=8 July 2020 |archive-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826071135/https://www.businessinsider.com/macadamia-nuts-most-expensive-world-australia-hawaii-2019-3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Image:Macadamia Beaumont.JPG|right|thumb|Macadamia 'Beaumont' in new growth]]

=== Cultivars ===

==== Beaumont ====
A ''[[Macadamia integrifolia]]'' / ''[[Macadamia tetraphylla|M. tetraphylla]]'' hybrid commercial variety is widely planted in Australia and New Zealand; Dr. J. H. Beaumont discovered it. It is high in oil but is not sweet. New leaves are reddish, and flowers are bright pink, borne on long racemes. It is one of the quickest varieties to come into bearing once planted in the garden, usually carrying a useful crop by the fourth year and improving from then on. It crops prodigiously when well pollinated. The impressive, grape-like clusters are sometimes so heavy they break the branchlets to which they are attached. Commercial orchards have reached {{convert|18|kg|abbr=on}} per tree by eight years old. On the downside, the macadamias do not drop from the tree when ripe, and the leaves are a bit prickly when one reaches into the tree's interior during harvest. Its shell is easier to open than that of most commercial varieties.
[[Image:Macadamia Maroochy.JPG|right|thumb|Macadamia 'Maroochy' new growth]]

==== Maroochy ====
A pure ''[[Macadamia tetraphylla|M. tetraphylla]]'' variety from Australia, this strain is cultivated for its productive crop yield, flavour, and suitability for pollinating 'Beaumont.'

==== Nelmac II ====
A South African ''M. integrifolia'' / ''M. tetraphylla'' hybrid cultivar, it has a sweet seed, which means it must be cooked carefully so that the sugars do not caramelise. The sweet seed is usually not fully processed, as it generally does not taste as good, but many people enjoy eating it uncooked. It has an open micropyle (hole in the shell), which may let in fungal spores. The crack-out percentage (ratio of nut meat to the whole nut by weight) is high. Ten-year-old trees average  {{convert|22|kg|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} per tree. It is a popular variety because of its pollination of 'Beaumont,' and the yields are almost comparable.

==== Renown ====
A ''M. integrifolia'' / ''M. tetraphylla'' hybrid, this is a rather spreading tree. On the plus side, it is high-yielding commercially; {{convert|17|kg|abbr=on}} from a 9-year-old tree has been recorded, and the nuts drop to the ground. However, they are thick-shelled, with not much flavour.