The almond tree grows to a height of about 10 metres (30 feet).

After olive trees, almond trees are the most widely grown fruit tree in Sicily, where there are various, subtly-distinguished varieties.

In Roman times, almonds were cultivated as far north as Normandy and southern England, but the trees rarely survive a hard freeze, and they produce less fruit in cooler regions (northern Europe was probably slightly warmer 2000 years ago).

Sicilian almonds are harvested in July, if not earlier.

Very few find their way into the export market.

Most Sicilian almonds, like Sicilian pistachios, are used in confections, though some are used to make sweet liqueur and even almond-flavoured wines, thought to be an aphrodisiac.