Almond (Prunus dulcis)

Pictures

1 2 3 4 5 6

•  
  Appearance

  The Almond is a small deciduous tree with decorative flowers and a favourite stone fruit.

•  
  Leaves

  Pale green, lanceolate or elliptic, 10 to 12 cm long leaves. Round-toothed.

•  
  Leaf upperside

  Pale green, lanceolate or elliptic, 10 to 12 cm long leaves. Round-toothed.

•  
  Flowers

  Flowering period: II to IV. Very attractive, brilliant white or pink flowers. Usually conjugate. Appear before the leaves sprout.

•  
  Fruits

  Oblong ovate stone fruit with leathery grey shell. Stone with broad edging. Sweet almonds have a cinnamon-coloured skin. Bitter almonds contain prussic acid and must not be eaten raw.

•  
  Bark

  Blackish bark is deeply fissured and broken up into rectangular segments. The wild form is covered with thorns.

Poisonousness

Bitter almond contains a form of prussic acid. Must not be eaten raw.

Application

Open country, open fields, parks, urban areas, container plants, private gardens, kitchen gardens, front gardens, crop plant

Native regions

Mediterranean regions, North Africa, Turkey, Near East, Western Asia

Location parameters

Light: full sun to sunny; soil structure: normal; humus concentration: medium; pH value: slightly acid to alkaline; nutrient concentration: normal to high.

Demands

Does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Hardiness

down to -15 C°

Growth

Height of growth: 5 to 8 m. Spread: 4 to 6 m. Conical, broad-crowned, upright or overhanging, often multi-stem tree.

Leaves

Pale green, lanceolate or elliptic, 10 to 12 cm long leaves. Round-toothed.

Flowers

Flowering period: II to IV. Very attractive, brilliant white or pink flowers. Usually conjugate. Appear before the leaves sprout.

Fruits

Oblong ovate stone fruit with leathery grey shell. Stone with broad edging. Sweet almonds have a cinnamon-coloured skin. Bitter almonds contain prussic acid and must not be eaten raw.

Bark

Blackish bark is deeply fissured and broken up into rectangular segments. The wild form is covered with thorns.