Prunus amygdalus

Amygdalus communis’s origin is in the Mediterranean region, and it is recognized as a common Israeli tree. It is deciduous and of medium size; in optimal conditions, it can reach a height of 8 meters. The tree prefers Middle Eastern weather with hot summers and relatively mild winters, but with lots of precipitation. The optimal temperature for it is between 15–30°C (59–86°F). It is rather vulnerable to pests and disease. It sheds its leaves in the winter, and its impressive flowering show begins early in the spring, before the leaves blossom. Amygdalus communis, or the almond tree, is famous due to its beautiful and dense flowering in white or pink. As the first tree to flower, it heralds the arrival of spring each year, and songs, poems and stories have been penned to it in honor of Tu BiShvat, the Jewish New Year for Trees. According to surveys conducted at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, one almond tree can have several tens of thousands of flowers, and up to 250,000 flowers in a large almond tree. They point out that the number of fruits that the tree eventually fertilizes is significantly less than the number of flowers because the early flowers are still prone to being torn off due to storms and inclement weather that occur in late winter and early spring. The flowers are particularly fragrant and attractive to honey bees, and due to their early flowering, they benefit from the lack of competition as regards bee pollination. We recommend using Amygdalus communis as a solitary tree for decoration or fruit, or in a group for a grove or orchard. The tree’s fruit, the almond, which is a green fruit that contains a hard pit, is not considered a nut, but rather a drupe. This refers to a hard pit coated with fruit flesh and peel. In this way, it is similar to the plum and peach fruits. The almond fruit is grayish green and hairy, and it contains a hard shell that itself contains an edible pit. The sweet almond varieties were selected from the bitter varieties as long ago as in ancient times, and there is evidence that the tree was grown for agriculture – for food and trade as early as the Early Bronze Age (2000–3000 BCE), and almond remains were even found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Many products are manufactured from the almond fruit. Among them is the deadly poison cyanide (found to a greater extent in bitter almonds than in sweet almonds). Sweet Amygdalus communis is used for food in various ways and even serves as an important part of the confectionery industry. Almonds are used to produce almond milk and Amaretto liqueur in Italy, and they are also a healthy snack. Almonds are very nutritious and contain 21% protein, calcium and many vitamins.

The almond is referred to in Genesis 43:11 as one of “the best products of the land.” The tree and the fruit are mentioned in additional places in the Bible. In Judaism, the tree is a symbol of providence and promise due to its flowering before all other trees. Amygdalus communis’s branches and flowers were the inspiration for the design of the menorah in the Temple. Amygdalus communis is also symbolic in Christianity, where it symbolizes Jesus’ virgin birth and the Virgin Mary. In California, almond pollination is conducted in a controlled manner and is considered the largest annual pollination event in the world, with about a million beehives scattered in the almond orchards at the end of winter. The event is managed by pollination agencies and beekeepers from all over the US, due to the severe, ongoing and worsening shortage of honey bees, which are responsible for the pollination of many trees. Because of this lack of bees, almond trees have been developed in the US that can pollinate themselves, but their fruits are less successful than those of the trees pollinated in the traditional way.

Other Rosaceae: Pyrus calleryana | Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’ | Prunus amygdalus Amygdalus communis | Prunus cerasifera | Prunus campanulata