{"slug":"juglans-nigra","scientific_name":"Juglans nigra","common_names":["Black walnut","Eastern black walnut"],"family":"Juglandaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":20,"mature_spread_m":18,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[4,9],"sun":"full","water":"medium","soil":"Deep, rich, moist, well-drained loam; tolerates calcareous soil but performs poorly on thin or infertile sites","native_range":"Eastern United States from Massachusetts to northern Florida, west to Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and central Texas","description":"A large, valuable timber and nut tree (50-75 feet) with long feathery leaves that turn clear yellow and hard-shelled nuts in green husks that stain everything they touch. Its roots and leaves release juglone, which kills tomatoes, apples and many ornamentals planted beneath it. Best on big rural or riparian lots with deep soil.","care":"Plant small; the taproot makes transplanting hard. Keep soil moist the first two years. Do not plant vegetable gardens or sensitive ornamentals within the drip line. Expect fall webworm and caterpillars, anthracnose in wet years, and a heavy nut drop in autumn that is hard on mowers and ankles. Prune in late winter.","benefits":["shade","edible","wildlife","birds","fall_color","long_lived"],"uses":["timber","food","yard_shade","parks","agroforestry"],"cautions":["toxic_parts","messy_fruit","heavy_litter","pest_prone","large_roots"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Black_Walnut_nut_and_leave_detail.JPG","image_credit":", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=JUNI","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juglans-nigra/"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/juglans-nigra","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/juglans-nigra.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Also native in: CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, VA, WI, WV (USDA PLANTS distribution)","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"AL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"AR","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"LA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"MS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"NC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"OK","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"SC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"TN","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native to the eastern half of Texas as far west as the Edwards Plateau; Austin's Grow Green list carries the smaller native little walnut (Juglans microcarpa) instead","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/JUNI"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":"Atlanta","status":"recommended","note":"On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list","source_url":"https://treesatlanta.org/resources/50-atlanta-trees/"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Houston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/StreetTree_files/StreetTree.xlsx"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}