As a concentrated and tasty form of food, nuts have enjoyed a booming world market in recent decades. Traditional nuts include walnuts, almonds, chestnuts and hazelnuts, but there is also a growing trade in lesser known nuts such as pistachio and macadamia. Having been developed only recently from the wild, macadamia is now perceived as the superior luxury nut. As a result of its high value, macadamia is being planted in many areas of the world, including New Zealand. Gevuina trees have been growing and fruiting in New Zealand for close to 50 years, which is evidence of its fit to New Zealand conditions.
Genetic types tolerate from well drained soils to almost swampy waterlogged soils.
The beautiful, evergreen, glossy-leaved trees with their creamy white flowers and red to black fruit are striking as ornamentals. Their nectar is relished by bees and they produce a prized wood. Nuts are of a size and quality similar to those of macadamia, 1.4-2.5 cm diameter depending on origin, but enclosed in a softer, thinner shell. This is an advantage for processing and for selling as nut in shell. In addition, fruit can be processed for valuable edible and cosmetic oils, exhibiting good skin penetrating and UV filtering properties.