What soil does Almond grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

How far from the house should Almond be planted?

Plant it at least 2.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Almond flower?

Flowering: March–April, pink, white.

How much water does Almond need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Almond

Prunus dulcis

Almond (Prunus dulcis) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €16.

Illustration of Almond — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

The earliest fruit tree to flower: the white and pink blossom on bare branches in late winter and early spring makes it worth growing as an ornamental too, and the nuts are harvested in late summer and early autumn when the green hull splits. Most cultivars are self-sterile, so plant two cultivars that flower at the same time near each other (the Tétényi cultivars pollinate each other well), or choose a self-fertile one such as Tuono or Supernova. It is sold grafted and its size depends on the rootstock, usually a 4 to 6 m tree in a garden; give it the warmest, sunniest spot away from frost pockets, in loose, chalky, well-drained soil, where it also copes well with drought.

Watch out for

Central Europe is the northern limit of almond growing: the tree survives hard winters in warm, sheltered sites, but its flower buds and very early blossom are frost tender, so expect spring frost to take the crop every two or three years. It crops reliably only in warm, south-facing, sheltered, wine-growing sites, and in a cold garden or frost pocket it is little more than an ornamental; late-flowering cultivars are more dependable. In a cool, wet spring Monilia kills the blossom and shoots; shot hole, scab and leaf curl also occur, it is more prone to fungal diseases in irrigated, humid gardens, and it does not tolerate heavy, wet soil. Pests are aphids, spider mites, peach twig borer, oriental fruit moth, bark moth, scale insects and, more recently, the almond seed wasp, which eats out the kernels. It needs little pruning, but the crown must be kept open because it tends to get congested and go bare inside.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 3.5 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, pink, white

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3.5 m
Ultimate size	4–8 m × 4–8 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, pink, white
Harvest	August–October
Self-fertile	no
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €16

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €16

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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