Macadamia integrifolia is a plant of the subtropics and tropics of eastern Australia. Iit has fairly stringent environmental needs if good crops of seeds are to be produced[303 ]. In the tropics it fruits best at elevations from 1,000 - 1,600 metres, but succeeds down to sea level in the subtropics[418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 10 - 26°c, but can tolerate 8 - 35°c[418 ]. Mature plants are capable of withstanding mild frosts, but only for short periods[303 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 700 - 3,500mm[418 ]. Requires a sunny position[418 ]. Plants grow best in rich, moist but well-drained soils and require copious summer watering in their early stages[167 , 303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 7[418 ]. Established plants are very drought resistant[200 ]. Trees require a sheltered position and are easily damaged by strong winds[200 ]. Floral initiation takes place when temperatures drop and trees become quiescent in autumn, the optimum temperature being 18°c[303 ]. The initials remain dormant for 50 - 96 days; the racemes extend after a rise in temperature and some rain[303 ]. Seedling growth is initially slow, but gathers momentum as saplings produce a series of extension growth flushes in a year[303 ]. The juvenile phase lasts for 7 years or more, but grafted trees come into bearing after 3 years[303 ]. Plants are slow growing in cultivation, especially when young, seedlings take 6 - 7 years to produce their first fruit[167 , 303 ]. The trees then produce commercial crops for about 40 - 50 years and can fruit for up to 100 years[200 ]. The trees can flower and produce fruit all year round[324 ]. Yields of 45 kg nuts-in-shell from better trees or an average of 3.2 - 3.5 t/ha per year are obtained in Hawaii[303 ]. Pruning is not normally necessary, but is tolerated if carried out in the autumn[188 ]. There are some named varieties[167 , 183 ].