Black Walnut
Juglans nigra · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Tree Category
Nut Tree, Shade Tree, Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None (wild species)
Hardiness Zones
4-9 (USDA)
About This Tree
A large, stately tree with an open, spreading crown and a straight trunk. Known for its high-value dark wood and edible nuts. It has an airy foliage appearance due to its large compound leaves and typically matures into a rounded or oval-shaped canopy.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound, 12-24 inches long, consisting of 10-24 leaflets. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate with finely serrated margins. Foliage is bright green in summer, turning yellow in fall. Arrangement is alternate.
Bark Characteristics
Dark brown to grayish-black with deep, diamond-shaped furrows and rough, intertwining ridges. Characteristic inner bark is chocolate brown.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America (Central and Eastern United States and parts of Southern Canada)
Growing Season
Late leafing in spring, flowers in late spring/early summer, nuts ripen in autumn; early leaf drop in fall.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires high light levels); prefers moist, well-drained, fertile loamy soils but has moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
70-100 feet tall and 60-80 feet wide; growth rate is moderate; lifespan often exceeds 150 years; trunk diameter 2-4 feet.
Special Characteristics
Produces juglone (allelopathic chemical that inhibits growth of some nearby plants); highly prized timber for furniture; exceptionally strong, dark wood; edible nut encased in a thick green husk.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides high-energy nuts for squirrels, woodpeckers, and foxes. Host plant for the Luna Moth and other lepidoptera. Large canopy provides excellent nesting sites for birds.