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Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

  • Prized For its Nuts
  • Produces Attractive Hardwood
  • Fragrant Leaves
  • Grows 50' to 75' tall with a 50'to 75' spread
  • May Self-Pollinate, Plant Two Trees to Ensure Pollination
  • Zones 4 to 9
  • Can't Ship To AR, AK, AZ, CA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 3442 | Shipping Height: 2' - 3'
*Mem. Price:$6.98
Reg. Price:$10.50
Quantity:

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Zones 4 - 9
Zones 4 - 9

Hardiness Zones: Zones 4 - 9
The Black Walnut can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

nut tree
nut tree

Type of tree:
The Black Walnut falls into the following type(s): Nut Trees

50' - 75' High
50' - 75' High

Mature Height:
The Black Walnut grows to be 50' - 75' feet in height.

50' - 75' Spread
50' - 75' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Black Walnut has a spread of about 50' - 75' at full maturity.

Medium Growth
Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Full Sun
Full Sun

Sun:
This walnut does well in full sun.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
The Black Walnut grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well drained, wet, wide range, clay soils.

Rounded Shape
Rounded Shape

Shape:
This walnut has rounded shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
The practical and the aethetic combine in black walnut to make this species one of the most treasured trees in American history. The valuable dark brown wood is strong with a handsome grain that polishes easily and gleams forever. The rich flavored nuts are enjoyed fresh and retain their flavor and texture during cooking. Black walnuts have nearly twice the protein of English walnuts.

Wildlife Value:
The nuts are eaten by woodpeckers, foxes, and squirrels.

History/Lore/Use:
This native tree has been called our best friend in times of war and peace. Native Americans and early settlers used it for food, dyes, ink, medicine, fence posts, gun stocks, and furniture. Today black walnut wood is highly prized for paneling and furniture and the nuts for food.

Leaves:
Pinnately compound, alternate, 12"-24" leaves each consisting of 15-23, 2"-5" dark green leaflets. The leaflets are finely toothed.

Flower Color:
Greenish

Bloom Time:
Spring.

Fruit Description:
The fruit consists of three layers: the round 1 1/2"-2" green fleshy husk borne singly or in clusters of 2-3, a black, hard, thick corrugated, 1-1 1/2" shell, a kernel with a rich, oily flavor. Walnut trees produce nuts in 12-15 years. They are harvested in early autumn.

Prized for its nuts and attractive hardwood. Fragrant leaves. Likes deep, rich, well-drained soil; grows more slowly in drier soils. Grows to 50' to 75', 60' spread. (May self-pollinate, plant two trees to ensure pollination) (zones 4-9)

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AR, AZ, CA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.