The Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
Juglans nigra, the eastern American black walnut, is a species of deciduous tree in the walnut family, Juglandaceae, native to North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central Texas. …
How much is a black walnut tree worth for lumber?
Black walnut is one of the fastest growing and highest valued hardwood species, but the long time periods required for hardwood trees ... real wood" to even consider this option. Social scientists generally agree that basic human values are much less ...
Is black walnut native to North America?
The black walnut tree is native to eastern North America. It prefers rich, deep, well-drained soils and stream terraces, but will grow in drier upland soils as well although they won’t grow as quickly or reach the same size as trees growing in more favorable alluvial soils. Black walnut is commonly found in limestone derived soils.
How to identify the common black walnut tree?
The three most common walnut tree varieties are:
- Black walnut (Juglans nigra). Black walnut tree has dark-colored bark with deep furrows giving the tree trunk a rough feel. ...
- Butternut (Juglans cinerea) or white walnut trees. Butternut trees have a light gray bark with a smoother feel than black walnuts. ...
- English walnut (Juglans regia) trees. ...
Where is black walnut grown?
Uses for Black Walnut Trees
- Landscape Use. Black Walnut trees make excellent shade trees. ...
- Food. This nutcracker makes fast work of opening the delicious walnuts. ...
- Lumber. Black Walnut lumber is one of the most prized and valuable hardwoods native to North America. ...
- Medicinal. There are over 70 uses for Black Walnut Trees documented by 16 different tribes. ...
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How much space does a black walnut tree need?
Recommended spacing for walnut plantations is 12 x 12 feet (300 trees per acre). This allows for mortality and thinning of undesirable trees during the course of the rotation.
How long do black walnut trees live?
Black walnut grows slowly, maturing on good soils in about 150 years; it may have a life span of more than 250 years.
Are black walnut trees strong?
The Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) tree is a very large, flowering tree that produces a strong central leader and a broad-spreading canopy of dense, heavy branches.
How tall is a 30 year old black walnut tree?
100 to 120 feetDescription and Growth Mature black walnut trees on good sites may grow 100 to 120 feet in height and 30 to 40 inches in diameter at breast and limbless, whereas open-grown trees are frequently forked and limby.
Should I cut down my black walnut tree?
Walnut tree pruning is important for the tree's health, structure, and productivity. Walnut trees (Juglans spp.) make very nice shade trees, are excellent timber specimens, and also produce delicious nuts for eating by humans, birds, and squirrels alike.
Are black walnut trees good?
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is considered one of the most valuable trees native to North America. Its wood is valuable for furniture and cabinet making and its edible nuts are harvested for commercial sale.
What's wrong with black walnut trees?
The fruit, leaves and roots of black walnut trees contain a chemical, juglone, that can have a devastating impact on the roots of other plants. In humans, ingesting even a small amount of pure juglone can cause a serious poisoning effect. Inside the tree, juglone is a clear liquid — called prejuglone — that's nontoxic.
What animal eats black walnuts?
Many animals eat these walnuts including squirrels, turkeys, raccoons and bears. Black walnut trees often affect the kinds and densities of plants that grow around them.
Do deer eat black walnuts?
Deer do not usually eat black walnuts because their nuts are too hard to crack. Black walnuts also make a great cover scent against deer and other mammals. Deer do not like that pungent smell that their shells give off. Deer will also eat tiny small walnut seedlings and sprouts from stumps.
What is a 50 foot black walnut tree worth?
50 board feet (Doyle Tree Scale). 50 board feet multiplied by $1.00/ft stumpage value = $50. Example 2: 18" DBH black walnut tree with one 16-ft log contains approx. 100 board feet.
How much is a full grown black walnut tree worth?
"Bigger trees have more board-feet volume, so there is more value. The most valuable trees I've seen in my 35-year career have been over 30 inches in diameter and larger." For example, a black walnut that is Grade A veneer at 19 inches diameter will be worth about $700 or $800.
How big is a 50 year old black walnut tree?
80 feetA walnut site index of 80 indicates that location will grow a walnut tree to 80 feet of height in 50 years.
How tall do black walnut trees grow?
Black Walnut Trees grow tall! Over 100′ for a mature tree, and they can branch to 50′ diameter. The rough bark can be mistaken for Ash or Tulip Poplar trees, with its rough vertical ridges. But the leaves are more unique, being ‘compound’.
How big is a black walnut tree?
The leaf of the Black Walnut Tree are compound, with alternate leaves. The total compound size is around 18″ (30-60 cm) long , give or take 6″, and approximately 6″ wide (15 cm).
How to propagate black walnuts from seed?
How to Propagate Black Walnut Trees from seed. Black Walnut trees can be propagated from collected nuts. After the walnuts naturally start falling from the tree, you should collect some from the tree itself, not the ground. Then, remove the husk and test the black walnuts viability by seeing if it sinks in water.
How to grow black walnuts?
How to plant and germinate Black Walnuts 1 Fill a container with moist potting soil. 2 Planting Depth – Plant Black Walnuts 1-2″ deep into the soil (2.5-5 cm) 3 Set the container outside in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade 4 Protect the container from squirrels and rodents. Hardware cloth, screens, or something similar with a rock on top works great. 5 Germination will occur in roughly the middle of Spring, once temperatures begin warming up overnight
How many florets does a black walnut tree have?
Female florets are in small groups on a small spike, and will have 3-6 florets.
What is the root system of a black walnut tree?
The root system of Black Walnut Trees consists wide-spread lateral roots and a deep taproot. The root produces a chemical called Juglone, that inhibits or prevents growth of certain plants. This mechanism helps reduce competition, raising the chances of the individual tree to survive and collect nutrients.
What is the chemical that inhibits the growth of a black walnut tree?
Black Walnut Trees have a deep taproot. The root produces a chemical called Juglone, that inhibits or prevents growth of certain plants. This mechanism helps reduce competition, raising the chances of the individual tree to survive and collect nutrients.
How tall is a black walnut tree?
When grown in the open, the black walnut reaches 75' tall with a round, low branching, open crown that spreads nearly as wide as it is tall. In forests and plantations, the tree may reach 150' tall with a well formed trunk and lower limbs self pruned from « to 2/3 the distance from the ground.
What type of soil does a black walnut grow in?
The black walnut grows in in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils.
How long does it take for a black walnut tree to bear fruit?
However, the crushed black walnut shells can stain fingers, clothing, and concrete. The trees bear in 12-15 years.
What is the toxic substance in black walnut roots?
Black walnut tree roots contain juglone, a toxic substance released when the the roots of other juglone -sensitive species come in contact with walnut roots. You must keep a wide separation between the black walnut tree and susceptible plants.
How long are the leaves of a sage tree?
Features pinnately compound, alternate leaves that are 12–24" in length and consist of 15–23 dark green leaflets that are 2–5" long. The leaflets are finely toothed. Is self-fertile but requires wind for pollination. Plant more than one tree to ensure a better crop. Grows in a rounded shape.
How fast does a sage tree grow?
This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.
Does black walnut poison work on rhododendrons?
The black walnut's poison does not work on all species and some even seem to thrive on it.
How tall is a black walnut tree?
Black walnut is a deciduous tree that grows 50 to 120 feet tall, with an average height of about 80 feet. The trunk appears especially long because the first branches start at a high level. The bark of young trees is grayish and scaly and over time darkens and develops intersecting diamond-shaped ridges. The dense crown is rounded.
How big are black walnut leaves?
Black walnut leaves are very large, up to 24 inches long. What appear to be individual leaves are actually single leaflets. Black walnut trees are one of the last trees to leaf out in the spring and one of the first to drop their leaves in the fall. The fall color is yellow to brown.
Where Does Black Walnut Grow?
Black walnut is a hardy, tough tree that can grow in many locations. In fact, it is often used in the rehabilitation and reforesting of disturbed sites such as former mined areas. When a walnut seedling pops up in the middle of your flower beds, it was most likely brought there by squirrels ithe previous fall. Squirrels like to bury the nuts in multiple locations to come back to in winter. Under the right conditions the nuts easily sprout after going through a 3- to 4-month cold stratification period.
Why do nurseries sell English walnut scions?
Nurseries often sell English walnut scions that have been grafted onto black walnut rootstock because black walnuts have a better resistance to pests and diseases than English (Persian) walnut trees. If you plant such a tree in your yard, be aware that it will have the same effect on juglone-sensitive plants as a non-grafted black walnut tree.
What vegetables can't grow in a black walnut tree?
Vegetables that cannot grow in the vicinity of a black walnut tree include tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, cabbage, rhubarb, and asparagus. Flowers sensitive to juglone include peonies, petunias, and chrysanthemums. Affected shrubs include azalea, hydrangea, lilac, and yew. Trees sensitive to juglone are alder, apple and crabapple trees, pine, spruce, silver maple, and birch. 2
What are the two trees that can be confused with black walnut?
Two trees that can be confused with black walnut because they often grow in the same area are the highly invasive tree of heaven and the native staghorn sumac .
How to tell if a walnut tree is black?
The other telltale sign of a black walnut tree are its nuts, which drop off the tree shortly after the leaves in September or October. The yellow-green husk turns black after dropping.
What is a black walnut tree?
The black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) is one of North America’s most valuable and beautiful native trees, but it does have a “dark side.”. Here’s what you should know before planting a black walnut in your yard—and how to harvest and eat the tasty walnuts, too!
What is the dark side of black walnuts?
Although the black walnut has many uses and benefits, the tree does come with a caveat: the black walnut’s roots, which may extend 50 feet or more from the trunk, exude a natural herbicide known as juglone. This substance is also found in the tree’s leaves and fruit husks. Juglone does serve a purpose, though.
How to store walnuts unshelled?
Hose down the nuts in a large bucket to remove any remaining husk. Dry the walnuts for a couple of weeks on a screen or drying rack or in a hanging mesh bag. You can store them unshelled up to a year. Crack the shell with a hammer to get to the nut meat. (Strike at a 90-degree angle to the seam until the nut cracks).
How to harvest a nut?
To harvest, collect the nuts as soon as possible to avoid mold and remove the husks immediately. Wear gloves as the husks stain your hands (and anything they touch). If the nut is too hard, wait a few days and it will brown and soften up.) To remove the husk, you can simply step on them gently with an old pair of shoes. Hose down the nuts in a large bucket to remove any remaining husk.
What wood is best for fence posts?
They found that its rich-brown heartwood was exceptionally resistant to decay and put it to use as fence posts, poles, shingles, and sills. When surrounded by other trees in the forest, black walnuts grow straight and tall with few, if any, lower branches.
Where did walnuts come from?
The early settlers discovered black walnuts growing in mixed forests from Canada to northern Florida and west to the Great Plains.
Do black walnuts grow straight?
When surrounded by other trees in the forest, black walnuts grow straight and tall with few, if any, lower branches.
Where is black walnut grown?
Black walnut native growing areas are concentrated in Eastern Canada and the United States , with the highest concentration in the Southern States. Although native to Eastern North America, this tree may also be grown in microclimates around the world.
How long does it take for a black walnut tree to germinate?
Stratification simply means to artificially create dormancy for a sufficient period of time to induce germination. In the case of black walnut, a 3 to 4 month period of dormancy is required before you can sow the seed.
How long to soak walnuts in a pail?
Separating the husk from a walnut is time consuming, messy work. There are two ways to do this; one is to soak about 50-husked nuts together in a five-gallon pa il for 2 days. This will soften and loosen the husks from their nuts enough to be easily pulled apart by hand. Walnuts from Tree Plantation on Vimeo. Walnuts.
How to collect walnuts from a tree?
There three ways to collect walnuts; pick them up off the ground in the fall, shake nuts loose using a telescopic branch holder or climb the tree and shake individual branches by hand. Picking them up off the ground after they drop in the fall is by far the safest way to collect walnuts and should provide a thousand walnuts or more from a reasonably mature tree.
How big is a veneer tree?
Quality lumber and veneer trees generally have diameters of 18 inches or greater.
What is the diameter of a veneer tree?
Quality lumber and veneer trees generally have diameters of 18 inches or greater . Comment from contributor F: The length of tree trunk that can be used for lumber or veneer is called its merchantable height. Merchantable height is usually the trunk height to major branches or forking.
What is the most durable wood?
The heartwood of this tree wood ranks with the most durable woods, including cedars, chestnut, and black locust, even under conditions favorable to decay. Because of the unique color and grain characteristics, Black walnut wood has been a prized wood for furniture, cabinets, millwork, flooring and other decorative interior applications, as well as gunstocks. Bookcases, desks, dining room tables, bedroom furniture, office furniture, and many other pieces are frequently made of Black Walnut. Because of its low movement after seasoning, walnut is particularly suitable for gunstocks. Figured black walnut stocks are prized for expensive shotguns, sporting rifles and artistic carvings.
How tall do black walnut trees grow?
Specimens growing in woodlands that face competition for sunlight grow a tall, straight trunk that reaches heights between 100 and 130 feet.
What soil type does black walnut grow in?
Aside from the prescribed depth, black walnut grows best in sandy loam soil that is well-drained and rich in nutrients. It tolerates a wide range of pH levels, from 5.0 to 8.0.
How to grow a nut tree from seed?
However, if you do wish to plant your seeds, follow these steps: 1 Gather the nuts and remove the husks. 2 Gather six nuts that have been dehusked to plant. 3 Plant them 4 inches apart in a cluster 4 to 5 inches deep in the soil. 4 Cover the planting area with a cloth and pin it to the ground to prevent wildlife from digging the nuts up. 5 Place a layer of mulch, straw, or leaves over the planting site. 6 Mark the site clearly.
What is the disease that canker in black walnuts?
Thousand Canker Disease. This is a disease that will produce cankers in the bark of black walnuts. It is the result of the combined activity of the walnut twig beetle and the canker-producing fungus Geosmithia morbida . The walnut twig beetle pierces the bark and leaves an open wound.
Why are my black walnuts getting sunburnt?
Black walnuts can become sunburnt if they are stressed due to a lack of moisture. If your grove experiences this stress and temperatures climb to 100℉ for several days in a row, the nuts can wither and dry out. This can be prevented with proper irrigation.
How long does it take for a pine tree to produce nuts?
Efforts were made to restore these magnificent trees, but progress has been slow. It takes 12 to 15 years before the tree produces any nuts and 40 to 60 years of constant care for it to fully mature.
When do walnuts ripen?
Walnuts, the fruit of the tree, ripen during the summer and autumn into a spherical nut with a greenish-brown, flesh-like husk encompassing a corrugated brown nut. Mature nuts will fall to the ground around October and produce relatively small seeds. This particular species has a massive taproot that grows deep into the soil.
