Black Walnut
Juglans nigra · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Nut Tree / Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild / Straight Species (Juglans nigra)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4a to 9a; highly tolerant of winter cold down to -30°F (-34°C).
About This Tree
A large, stately canopy tree featuring deep, diamond-patterned dark bark, massive ascending branches, and large pinnately compound foliage that creates a light, dappled shade canopy.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, pinnately compound leaves 1 to 2 feet long with 13 to 23 finely serrated, lanceolate leaflets. Dark green above, paler beneath, turning yellow in autumn before early leaf drop.
Bark Characteristics
Dark brown to nearly black, thick, deeply furrowed into narrow, rounded, intersecting ridges forming a prominent diamond-shaped pattern.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America, widely adapted throughout central and eastern United States and southern Canada.
Growing Season
Leafs out late spring (May), flowers in late spring, matures round green nuts in autumn (September–October), drops leaves early in fall, dormant in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun. Prefers moist, well-drained, deep, fertile soils. Moderate to high drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Reaches 50 to 75 feet high (up to 100+ feet in ideal forest conditions) with a canopy spread of 50 to 70 feet; fast growth rate when young, living 150 to 250 years.
Special Characteristics
Produces the chemical juglone (allelopathic effect inhibit sensitive plants nearby). High value wood for fine woodworking and furniture, edible round nuts encased in thick green husks.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides rich food sources for squirrels, woodchucks, mice, and birds. Host plant for Luna Moth caterpillars and several prominent native moth species.