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Scientific Name:
Juglans nigra
Pronunciation:
JU-glanz NYE-gruh
Common Name:
black walnut
Family Name:
Juglandaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Large wide-spreading tree; leaves alternate, 30-60cm long, petiole 7-14cm long, pinnately compound with (9-)15-19(-23) sessile leaflets, most lanceolate, 7-13cm long x 2-4 cm wide, base rounded, apex acuminate, margin serrate; nut drupe-like due to husk, singlular or in pairs, most rounded, 4-7cm wide, brown. Winter ID: lateral buds ovate, most 3-6(-10)mm long, superposed, dark brown; new growth and buds pubescent; leaf scar 7-11mm wide, 3-lobed, 3 prominent bundle scar clusters with centre one U-shaped (resembles a monkey face); pith chambered, fallen fruit.

Habit:
Horizontal, Open, Spreading
Form:
Oval - horizontal, Round
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
22 - 30m
Mature Spread:
15 - 25m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - central, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Herb, Specimen plant, Tall background, Wildlife food, Winter interest
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to English walnut.

Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Lustrous, Distinctive smell
Compound Leaf:
Odd-pinnate
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Serrate
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour, Undersides with hairs near veins

Inflorescence Type:
Catkin (ament), Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Perigynous
Colour (petals):
Showy, Yellow, Green
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar, Apr

Fruit Type:
Edible, Nut
Fruit Colour:
Yellow, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Not showy, Accessory tissue, Edible, The husk tissue is formed from fused bracts and sepals (this is more obvious in related species). The husk and the hard endocarp-like shell making them look very much like drupes, but they are botanically more nut-like than drupe-like with accessory bract tissue. But also because of the hard endocarp shell many consider them pseudodrupes or drupe-like nuts.

Bark Morphology:
Showy, Deeply fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Dark Grey, Brown, Black
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid, Superposed (Distinctive smell)
Leaf Scar Shape:
Three-lobed
Organ Modifications:
Ectomycorrhizae
Propagation:
Seed, Grafting
Pest Susceptibility:
Anthracnose, Bacterial leaf spot, Dieback, Mistletoe, Mites, Mold, Root rot, Scale insects
Specific Pests:

Course(s):
  • HORT 1155
  • Level 3 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
  • (BCE)  Boulevard (Circular) Eastend
  • (BUG)  BUG garden : q.3+ saplings
  • (JPL)  Juglans PLanting : 138
Location Map