Torreya grandis aka Chinese Nutmeg Tree

Torreya grandis belongs to the yew family, Taxaceae. It is an evergreen tree. Its names include Chinese nutmeg yew and large stinking yew. It comes from central and southern China, in temperate Asia. Its range takes in Anhui, Fujian, and Hubei. It also grows in Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. It grows in woods, mountains, and open valleys, often near streams. Soils in these sites include yellow, red, and dark types.

This tree grows slowly and keeps its leaves all year. Plants For A Future gives a height of 82 feet [25 metres]. The evidence gives no separate height range for garden trees. A tree at Kew reached 26 feet [8 metres] in 1970. Its year-round leaves give it value in woodland gardens. Sunny edges and sites with light shade also suit it. The sources give no bark or leaf shape details for this species.

The tree blooms in April, and wind carries its pollen. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. To set seed, trees of both sexes must grow nearby. A lone tree cannot fertilise itself. Seeds need two summers to mature. They ripen from October to November. People roast the seeds to eat and extract edible oil. Markets in China sell the seeds as food. The fleshy coat around each seed is called an aril. This coat also yields an essential oil.

Plain garden soil can suit this tree, even with some lime. It accepts sandy soil, loam, and clay. It tolerates slightly acid, neutral, and slightly alkaline soil. It needs shelter from wind. Moist air or damp soil near a stream also matters. Hot, humid summers give the best growth. It can grow in sun or shade, including woodland shade. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. Yet it reports reliable growth outdoors only in milder parts of Britain.

People use the wood in buildings, bridges, and furniture. Records of folk remedies list flowers and seeds for gut complaints and worms. They also list seeds for coughs and as laxatives. These records do not show safe doses or prove health benefits. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. This does not prove that all plant parts are safe. Nor does it prove the tree is safe for pets. The evidence names no specific pests or diseases.