Candlenut

Aleurites moluccanus

Tree20×9.1 mzone 10–13full sun

Will it grow where I live?

Candlenut is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 10): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Habit: Tree
Height: 20 m
Spread: 9.1 m
Growth: fast
Lifespan: 60 years
First yield: after 5 years
Hardiness: zone 10–13
Shade tolerance: full sun
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5 – 7

evergreen

Uses

Medicinal2 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Candlenut: how big does it get?

Candlenut (Aleurites moluccanus) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 20 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 9.1 m. Growth is fast.

Candlenut: what site does it need?

Candlenut tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5 and 7.

Candlenut: is it hardy?

Candlenut is listed as hardy in zone 10–13 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Candlenut: will it grow in Central Europe?

Candlenut: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Candlenut. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Candlenut: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Medicinal 2/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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