#16
Accession Number: 0016-0000
Common Name: Black Walnut
Latin Name: Juglans nigra
Family: Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)
Native Range: Eastern United States
Height: 75–100 feet
Spread: 75–100 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Yellowish-green
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
Light Preference: Full sun
Water Needs: Medium
Notes: Works well as a shade tree; fruit is showy, edible; tolerates rabbits, drought
Description: Black Walnut is a large tree, native to eastern US, typically growing 75-100’ tall. It produces strong-flavored nuts that are edible, if inconvenient to harvest. The green husks, which blacken and rot away after falling from the tree are badly staining, and the shell surrounding the nut kernels are extremely hard and difficult to crack. Although the nuts are sold commercially in specialty markets, the wood is more highly valued for its use in cabinets, furniture, gunstocks, and fine veneers. Though perhaps the best furniture wood of any native American tree, overharvesting has greatly reduced the native populations in the wild.
