Family: Anacardiaceae

Anacardium occidentale, commonly known as the cashew tree, is a tropical evergreen native to northeastern Brazil and widely cultivated throughout tropical regions for its edible nuts and the juicy cashew apple. The tree is small to medium in size, with a spreading crown and leathery, oval leaves. Its fruits consist of a pear-shaped, fleshy cashew apple attached to the kidney-shaped nut, which must be carefully processed due to toxic oils in the shell. Cashews are an important global crop, valued for their edible kernels, while the cashew apple is consumed fresh, juiced, or fermented into beverages in many parts of the world.

In Hawaiʻi, the cashew tree is only found in cultivation and is not known to be naturalized. It is grown in home gardens and orchards for its ornamental appeal as well as for its nuts and fruits. While it is not currently considered invasive in the islands, Anacardium occidentale is a hardy species that tolerates poor soils and drought, suggesting it has the potential to spread if given the right conditions. For now, it remains primarily a cultivated tree and is best appreciated for its food and cultural uses.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized outside native range (e.g., Indian Ocean islands, Jamaica)
  
• Repeatedly introduced and cultivated in tropics worldwide
  
• Toxic to humans (causes contact dermatitis via urushiols)
  
• Host for pests (e.g., tea mosquito bug)
  
• Bird-dispersed via fleshy false fruit
  
• Self-compatible (can self-pollinate)
  
• Short generation time (3–5 years to seed production)

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not parasitic
  
• Does not enhance fire risk
  
• Not shade tolerant
  
• Narrow soil specificity (requires well-drained sandy soils)
  
• Tree habit (non-climbing, non-smothering)
  
• Does not form dense thickets
  
• No vegetative reproduction
  
• Low seed production (large single-seeded fruit)
  
• No persistent seed bank (short-lived seeds)
  
• Not resilient to mutilation or fire