Arboretum Trees—Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Black walnut is distinctive amongst other trees in the Southeast. It stands tall in sunny sites and is known for its characteristic odor of the leaves and fruit. The dark bark and wood are prized in woodworking for their uses in furniture and gunstocks. The nuts are edible and used in a variety of different foods such as confectionaries, cakes, wine, and many more. Historically, the nuts were also used as a dye and stain. What a cool tree!

 

Family: Juglandaceae

Foliage: Deciduous

Mature height range: 50-75+ ft.

Light exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil preference: Moist, well-drained soil

Tolerance: Tolerant of dry, shaded, and/or cold environments but grows much slower

Wildlife: Fruit is eaten by squirrels, other rodents, and some birds; larval host plant for the luna (Actias luna) and regal (Citheronia regalis) moths

 

Mature black walnut with fruit by Geo Lightspeed7 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110890105

 

Closeup on black walnut leaves and fruit by Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1073230

 

Black walnut wood by A. Drauglis from Washington, DC, USA – S1, S2, S3, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49799355