Black Walnut
Juglans nigra · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Tree Category
Nut Tree and Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type, wild-type Juglans nigra without specific named cultivars
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9
About This Tree
Large, majestic deciduous tree with a straight trunk, an open and rounded crown, and deeply furrowed dark bark. Known for producing valuable hardwood timber and edible nuts enclosed in a fleshy green husk
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound leaves ranging from 1 to 2 feet long, containing 15 to 23 leaflets. Leaflets are lanceolate to ovate, sharply serrated, pointed at the tip, and alternate along the stem with a distinctive aromatic scent when crushed
Bark Characteristics
Dark brown to nearly black bark with deep, rounded ridges forming a diamond-shaped pattern, becoming rough and deeply furrowed as the tree matures
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Ontario down to Florida and west to the Great Plains
Growing Season
Leafs out late in spring after the danger of frost has passed, produces flowers in mid-spring, forms nuts that mature and drop in autumn, and drops leaves entering dormancy with the first hard frosts
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal growth and nut production. Prefers deep, rich, moist, and well-draining soils, though it adapts to a moderate range of soil moisture once established and has fair drought tolerance
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 50 to 75 feet with an equal or greater spread, growing at a medium rate with a lifespan often exceeding 130 years
Special Characteristics
Produces juglone, a chemical compound that inhibits the growth of certain surrounding plants (allelopathy). Highly prized for its rich, dark brown timber used in fine furniture and gunstocks, alongside edible nuts
Wildlife & Ecology
Supports a wide variety of wildlife including squirrels, chipmunks, and various bird species that feed on the nuts. Serves as a host plant for several moth caterpillars and provides nesting sites in its expansive canopy