Dwarf Almond Tree

Dwarf Almond Tree (Prunus dulcis) is a compact, deciduous nut tree that grows to about 2 to 2.5m high and 2m wide. It brings pink-white blossom on bare branches in late winter and a crop of almonds in late summer, in a size that fits a courtyard, a small yard or a large pot.

Why you'll love it

• Almonds from a small tree. The compact habit keeps blossom, nuts and pruning all within reach, with no ladder needed.
• Late winter blossom. Pink-white flowers open along the bare branches before most of the garden wakes, and bees work them heavily.
• Easy to know when to pick. The nuts are ready in late summer, when the green outer hulls split open and start to dry.
• Suits a large pot. A wide tub with good drainage lets you grow it on a sunny terrace.
• Dry summers suit it. Once established it handles heat and dry weather better than most fruit trees.

Where it works best

Small gardens and courtyards. Plant it as a blossom feature in a sunny, open bed with air moving around it.

Large pots. Use a container at least 50cm wide with a quality potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.

Home orchard. Plant 2.5 to 3m apart. Another almond nearby improves the crop, so two trees are better than one.

Growing Dwarf Almond in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. Almonds are trees for a dry-summer climate with a cold winter. They crop best in Mediterranean gardens and in cool and warm temperate inland districts. They do poorly in the humid subtropics, where summer rain brings fungal disease and the nut set is light. The tree itself is frost hardy when dormant, but a late frost can damage the early blossom, so avoid frost hollows.

Soil. Deep, well-drained soil is the main requirement. Sandy loam or gravelly loam is ideal. Almonds will not put up with waterlogged ground, so plant on a mound in clay.

Water and feed. Water regularly from blossom until the nuts have filled, then ease off as the hulls split. Feed in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertiliser and mulch out to the drip line, keeping it off the trunk.

Pruning. Prune in winter while the tree is bare. Keep an open, vase-shaped framework so light and air reach the centre, and remove dead, crossing or crowded wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Dwarf Almond as single trees in 300mm and 400mm pots. It is sold as a dwarf almond without a variety name. Almonds are deciduous, so a tree sent in winter arrives bare and one sent in the growing season arrives in leaf. Plant at the same depth as the pot, water in well and stake only if the site is windy. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Fruit and nut trees for the home orchard
• Plants that grow well in pots
• Edible plants
• Fruit trees for every season: planting tips

Common questions

Do I need two almond trees?

We do not know that this dwarf almond will crop well alone, so we do not describe it as self-fertile. Another almond flowering nearby improves the crop.

Will it grow in a humid coastal garden?

It will grow, but it is unlikely to crop well. Almonds need winter chill and a dry summer, and humid subtropical weather brings fungal problems and a poor nut set.

When are the almonds ready?

In late summer, when the outer hulls split. Pick or shake them down, remove the hulls and dry the nuts in their shells for a week or two before storing.