← Bedfellow

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

The nuts are richly flavored and worth the considerable work of husking and cracking, and the timber is among the most valuable hardwoods in North America. Its roots exude juglone, which suppresses tomatoes, apples, blueberries and many perennials within the root zone — site it far from the vegetable garden. Handling the husks stains skin for days and occasionally causes dermatitis.

Family

Juglandaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

75–100 ft

Spacing

75–100 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

April, May

Bloom colors

yellow, green, brown

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~129 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

specimen

Native states

AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV