On large properties, the Eastern Black Walnut can be used as a beautiful, broad shade tree in the lawn to screen the hot afternoon sun. Left uncut, this amazingly stately tree will be standing for your great-great-grandchildren to enjoy! What a legacy. When grown in a forest, Eastern Black Walnut grows straight up to 100 feet tall. Eastern Black Walnut trees will give you cool shade in the summer and an incredible focal point for your landscape. In the meantime, you and your family can enjoy the open, airy, dappled shade of the feathery, alternate compound leaves. It's estimated you can achieve 6,000 pounds of nuts per managed acre. The nut is prized for its high quality and are quite often harvested for commercial sale. Plant a Black Walnut nut orchard or larger timber plantation as an investment crop on large properties. Plant an orchard 15 to 20 feet apart on center. Why not plant a grove, orchard or even plantation on an unused corner of your property? You'll reap rewards, and nutritious nuts and eventually sell unequaled hardwood. Now, enterprising souls have realized the revenue potential of this large shade tree. Single trees have fetched $20K, so this tree should be seriously considered by hobby farmers and entrepreneurs. Overall, it's estimated that an acre of Eastern Black Walnut timber produces $100K in revenue when mature in 30 years. The magnificent, fine, close-grained wood is loved by woodworkers, and furniture makers, and for production into veneer, gunstocks, and musical instruments. Growing into a majestic 50-70 feet in height and width, and looks fantastic all growing season! The compound leaves almost look exotic and cast gorgeous shade throughout landscapes in USDA growing zones 4 to 9. It's even possible to tap the Eastern Black Walnut in spring to produce syrup like that of Maples. Shelled nuts can be kept in the freezer for two years or sold. In-shell nuts keep for over a year in the freezer or airtight container. They are high in edible oil which can be used in cooking or as a wood polish. If you don't collect them, the neighborhood squirrels and wildlife will go crazy for them!Įastern Black Walnuts have a rich flavor and a protein level that is almost 20 times higher than milk. After 5 or 6 years, you will be collecting bushels of delicious nuts that store well once they're cured. The Eastern Black Walnut produces round nuts that fall to the ground in September and October. Plant two, three, or more for best cross-pollination. With no major replanting plan in place until after the 1970s, this national treasure tree became harder to find. Entire forests in the Northeast were cut down to build the cabinets in the homes in our founding cities.

The decay-resistant heartwood is extremely durable and features a very attractive color! During the Civil War, Eastern Black Walnut was the wood of choice for soldiers' gunstocks. Eastern Black Walnut trees are renowned for their tasty nuts that typically grow in clusters of three.

The contrast between the fall color and the deep, dark trunks is eye-catching and memorable. The leaves will turn vibrant yellow in the fall well before any of your neighbor's trees. The story of the Eastern Black Walnut - like many native trees - is a fascinating one! This article from The Garden Hoe has a helpful list of plants that tolerate juglones.Trees in general are an investment in our future, but none more so than the beautiful, valuable Eastern Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). They require a buffer of about 50'/30m from the edge of the trees canopy for juglone-sensitive plants. Also, the husks can be used in brewing beer!īe mindful of the juglones in the in the roots/nut husks, they are toxic to many other species. The sap can be boiled to make walnut syrup, which tastes very similar to maple syrup but with notes of caramel and butterscotch. Why We Grow It: Black walnut is a beautiful tree that produces nuts with a stronger flavour than that of English walnuts. Black walnut is also infamous for being allelopathic, meaning it secretes toxic chemicals (juglones) into the soil to reduce plant competition. Although it is said to have a better flavour than the English walnut, the Black walnut remains less popular due to the increased difficulty of harvesting the nut meat from within the husk. History: Native to much of the eastern and central United States and southern Ontario, Black Walnut has long been used as a source of food, dye, lovely dark wood, and as an ornamental tree. Misc: assorted trees and bushes to enrich your landscape (nitrogen fixers/ native species +) Perennial Vegetables & Ground Cover Plants

Purdue 1 black walnut seedlings