Bertholletia excelsa aka Brazil Nut

Bertholletia excelsa is the Brazil nut, also called pará nut. This evergreen tree belongs to the Lecythidaceae family. It comes from tropical South America, including Brazil and nearby countries. Its range includes Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. It grows in lowland rain forests on deep, rich soil. It favours raised ground that escapes long or frequent floods.

This tree needs far more space than most gardens offer. Listed mature size is about 131 feet (40 m) tall. Its spread can reach about 82 feet (25 m). Reports of larger trees reach 184–197 feet (56–60 m). The crown has a rounded shape above a straight trunk. Most branches grow near the top of the trunk. Trunks can measure 3–7 feet (1–2 m) across. The tree keeps its leaves and grows at a moderate rate.

Bees pollinate the flowers, which lead to hard, woody capsules. Each ripe capsule can hold 12–24 brown, angular seeds. These seeds are the Brazil nuts sold for food. People eat them raw, roasted, salted, or in desserts. The seeds contain much oil, along with protein and carbohydrate. Pressing them yields a pale oil with a nutty taste. People use this oil in food, much like olive oil. Most commercial nuts come from wild trees rather than plantations.

Brazil nut needs full sun and warm, frost-free conditions. PFAF places it in USDA zones 10–12. It grows best with daytime temperatures of 20–36°C. It prefers high rainfall, yet needs a clear dry season. That seasonal change helps the tree set fruit. Soil should stay moist but drain well through a deep layer. It can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. It also tolerates poor soils and a broad pH range. Its scale suits large open spaces and botanic collections.

Seed-grown trees may take 14–20 years to bear their first crop. Fresh seeds can sprout within two to three weeks after careful shell cracking. Without this treatment, sprouting may take two years. The bark supplies fibre, and the wood has building uses. Empty capsules serve as cups, containers, and carved ornaments. Seed oil also goes into soap, paint, and perfume. Traditional uses include bark for liver complaints and oil for burns. These uses do not establish that such treatments work. Nuts from barium-rich soils can collect harmful amounts of barium. Those nuts should not be eaten.