🌿 Morphology
🌞 Growing conditions
🌍 Origin and family
🌾 Uses
Warning: Despite the care taken in writing this sheet, it is essential to cross-reference sources before using or consuming any plant. When in doubt, consult a qualified professional
Permaculture uses
The nuts are edible, though the thick husk and hard shell make them challenging to process. The husks can be used for dyeing fabric and tanning leather. The wood is highly valued for furniture and cabinetry. Juglone, a chemical produced by the tree, inhibits the growth of some other plants, making it useful as a natural herbicide in some situations, but detrimental in others. The tree provides shade and habitat for wildlife. Fallen leaves and husks can be composted, though the juglone content may inhibit decomposition to some extent. It is not a common edible species but its wood makes it a great candidate for sustainable forestry.
Permapeople description
Black walnut is a large deciduous tree native to North America, growing up to 100 feet tall. It has a straight trunk with a rough, deeply furrowed bark, and a canopy of large, pinnately compound leaves with 15-23 lance-shaped leaflets. The tree produces large, greenish-white flowers in the spring, followed by large, spherical fruits containing a single, edible nut.
Black walnuts are prized for their distinctive, rich flavor and are commonly used in baking and cooking. The nuts can be harvested in the fall and can be stored in their shells for several months.
Black walnuts prefer deep, well-drained soils and can tolerate a wide range of soil pH levels. They can be grown successfully in full sun to partial shade, and they are relatively drought-tolerant once established. Black walnuts are not particularly winter hardy, and they can be damaged by heavy ice and snow.
In addition to their culinary uses, black walnuts have a number of other uses. The wood is highly prized for its durability and attractive grain, and is used in furniture making and other woodworking applications. The tree's leaves, bark, and nuts are also used in herbal medicine for their astringent and tonic properties. Black walnuts are also valued for their ability to improve soil health, as their deep taproots help to break up compacted soils and their fallen leaves add organic matter to the soil.
Black walnuts are also an important food source for wildlife, including squirrels, birds, and deer. The tree provides shelter and nesting sites for a variety of animals, and its fallen leaves and nuts provide food for many species.
Botanical description
Juglans nigra, the black walnut, is a large deciduous tree typically growing to 65-130 feet tall, with a trunk diameter of 3-6 feet. The bark is dark brown to black and deeply furrowed. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 12-24 inches long, with 15-23 leaflets. The leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, 2-5 inches long, with serrated margins. The male flowers are catkins, and the female flowers are borne in clusters of 2-5. The fruit is a nut, 1-2 inches in diameter, with a thick, green husk that turns black in the fall. The nut shell is thick and corrugated, enclosing a rich, oily kernel. The tree has a deep taproot.
Companion planting
Black walnut produces juglone, a chemical that is toxic to some plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, and members of the Brassica family. Plants that are tolerant of juglone include some grasses, bee balm, oak trees, and certain members of the maple family. Consider planting black walnut away from sensitive plants.
Propagation methods
Propagation is typically done by seed. The nuts should be stratified (cold, moist storage) for several months before sowing. Seedlings are slow-growing and require protection from browsing animals. Grafting and budding can also be used to propagate specific cultivars, but are less common due to the taproot and challenges associated with transplanting.
History and traditions
Native Americans used black walnut for food, medicine, and dye. The nuts were eaten raw or cooked, and the husks were used to make a brown dye for clothing and baskets. The bark was used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, including skin conditions, digestive problems, and parasitic worms. European settlers adopted many of these uses, and black walnut became a valuable timber tree for furniture and other woodworking applications.
Usage calendar
Flowering occurs in spring (April-May). Nuts mature in autumn (September-October). Planting is best done in early spring or late fall. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before the sap begins to flow. Harvest nuts in the fall after they drop from the tree.