Eastern Black Walnut

Eastern black walnut is a large, deciduous North American tree with a broad crown, compound leaves, and greenish catkins. It produces hard-shelled edible nuts in fall and offers dense shade, but its mature size and juglone-bearing roots call for thoughtful placement. ## Form and landscape role The foliage consists of many leaflets that turn yellow in autumn. Male and female flowers occur on the same tree; flowering runs from about mid-April in southern parts of its range to mid-June in northern areas, and the nuts ripen in September or October. The [US Forest Service](https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/black-walnut) identifies Eastern black walnut and American walnut as common names for *Juglans nigra*. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juglans-nigra/) describes it as a 50–90-foot edible shade tree with valuable timber. ## Growing conditions Give this tree full sun and deep, moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It can grow in loam, clay, or sandy soils, but growth is best on deep, fertile sites. A deep taproot makes established trees difficult to transplant. Juglone compounds in leaves, stems, and roots can inhibit some nearby plants; check the [NC State plant profile](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juglans-nigra/) before planning sensitive vegetables, fruits, or ornamentals within the canopy. ## Maintenance Allow room for the mature crown and falling nuts, which can stain hard surfaces and need seasonal cleanup. Collect nuts promptly if harvesting, since wildlife also feeds on them. Keep the tree’s mature root zone and juglone-sensitive plants in mind when laying out adjacent beds.