Cutnut
Barringtonia procera
Slender trees with pink powder-puff flowers that open at night, and mild, crisp kernels eaten fresh.
Hardiness: zones 11 to 12
Light: part shade
Size: about 25 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: June to September
From: Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Guinea
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: New Guinea & Melanesia. Hardy in zones 11 to 12.
The story
Cutnut grows in village gardens in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Guinea. Children eat the crisp kernels fresh from the shell, and the trees flower at night with pink powder-puff blooms for moths and bats.
Planting
Part shade to sun, moist soil, frost-free. Grow from fresh seed.
Growing
A slender tree that fits between bigger ones; mulch and water in dry spells.
Harvest and use
Kernels eaten fresh or roasted soon after harvest.
What to watch for
Kernels do not keep long. Frost-tender.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home