Description
Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree Anacardium occidentale, in the family Anacardiaceae. It is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple. The tree can grow as tall as 14 meters. Cashews are native to tropical South America.
Cashew trees produce fruits that have two edible parts. The brightly colored cashew apple is mainly used in beverages, chutneys and vinegar.
Cashew trees thrive outdoors exclusively in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 11, requiring frost-free tropical or subtropical climates. In the United States, in-ground outdoor growing is limited to extreme south Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
