Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans
Gives two spices: nutmeg and its red lace, mace. Needs a male tree nearby to bear.
Hardiness: zones 11 to 12
Light: part shade
Size: about 40 ft tall, 20 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Banda Islands (Moluccas)
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.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 11 to 12.
The story
Nutmeg grew only on the tiny Banda Islands, and wars were fought over them: the Dutch massacred the Bandanese in 1621 and traded Manhattan to the English for the last nutmeg island. The seed is nutmeg, its red lace is mace; both come from one fruit.
Planting
Part shade when young, rich, moist, drained soil, heat, humidity; no frost. Plant male and female or a grafted tree in the wet tropics. Slow, 40 feet.
Growing
Keep moist and mulched, shelter from wind and sun when young. It bears in seven years or so.
Harvest and use
Fruit splits when ripe, through the year; peel off the red mace, dry both separately for weeks. Grate the nut fresh.
What to watch for
Drought, wind, and cold.
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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