Almond
Prunus amygdalus
Rosaceae, Rose Family
The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Jeremiah 1:11-12 NIV
Find almond in NIV God's Word for Gardeners Bible near Jeremiah 1 & as part of the Garden Work theme of Flowering, pages a-33 & a-34
Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.
Genesis 43:11 NIV
Cultural Information
| Type | Edible Tree |
| Height | about 20 feet |
| Soil | well-tilled, loamy soil with good drainage |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Leaves | pointed, oblong, medium green |
| Flowers | lovely, eye-catching, silver dollar-sized, pinkish-white blossoms with central golden-tipped, bright pink stamens. Blooms first among stone fruits. |
| Fruit | velvety, greenish-brown stone fruits reveal edible almonds inside a dotted shell |
Planting Tips
- hardy to Zone 6, some varieties available to Zone 5
- late frosts will interfere with almond's early bloom and setting fruits
- choose a sunny spot with good drainage where you can enjoy seeing the showy spring flowering
- add compost and mulch around tree base each season
- plant several trees together for better pollination, minimum 10 feet apart
- prune branches each season to thin overcrowding and promote strong, central structure
- almonds are bee-pollinated, a good early spring food source for bees
Garden to Table
- bring almond branches indoors in late winter for a showy, forced-blossom display in a large vase or jar
- flowers have an incredible, floral scent, more rose-like than the smell of almond extract
- set smaller sprigs in petite vases in a row down the center of the table to decorate and add their delicate scent to a dessert or tea
- find raw, flavored, and sliced almonds in markets - eat all by themselves as hearty snacks or add to many cooked and baked foods
- spread sliced almonds on a small sheet pan and toast for 2 minutes to bring out their flavor
- sprinkle sliced, toasted almonds on cooked broccoli, spinach, or other winter greens, as well as in fresh salads, rice pilafs, or chicken salad
- almonds go well with chocolate! add a layer of the sliced or chopped nuts to the top of brownie batter
- try almond extract for a tangy zeal in cake and pancake batters, or poppy seed muffins
- almond milk is now widely available as a substitution for milk and creamer; almond milk over cereal or oatmeal gives a deeper dimension of nutty flavor
More Research
See Blog Posts on AlmondAlmond’s early blossoming in the promised land and neighboring regions earned its reputation for heralding spring, the first tree to announce weather’s warming trend with a showy flowering...The almond branch, shaqed, that Jeremiah could see, represented God seeing or watching, shaqad, his Word being fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:11 – 12)....[watch] the Scriptures as fleeting flowers are matched with God’s Word enduring forever, fully unfolded, displayed and fulfilled (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24 – 25).
-from the NIV God's Word for Gardeners Bible
Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.
Genesis 43:11 NIV
Photo Credits
© 2014 Shelley S. Cramm Blossoming almond orchard in Kern County, California
© 2014 Shelley S. Cramm Sweet blossoms on an almond branch
© 2015 Shelley S. Cramm Raw almonds ready for snacking
