Juglans nigra L.

Black Walnut

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Black Walnut is a native deciduous tree in the Walnut family (Juglandaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Black Walnut occurs in rich hardwood forests, in ravines, and along streams and rivers. It is a medium to large tree, reaching heights of 120 feet. The bark is dark gray to almost black and deeply furrowed with narrow ridges. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, pinnately compound with 15-19 leaflets, the largest leaflets near the middle of the leaf. The terminal leaflet is often poorly formed or missing. The leaflets are lanceolate in outline, pubescent and glandular below, and with serrate margins. The leaves are dark green above and yellowish green below. Both the wood and leaves of Black Walnut have a strong odor when damaged. The leaves turn bright yellow before falling in the autumn. Male flowers are produced in drooping green catkins on the previous year’s growth. Female flowers are solitary or paired and terminal on the current year’s growth. The fruit is a drupe. The fruit has a fleshy indehiscent husk surrounding the nut. Black Walnut seed are edible and used in pies, cakes, cookies, and ice cream. The wood is heavy with a dark heartwood. It is used for furniture, gun stocks, and paneling. Black Walnut produces a substance known as Juglone that prevents many plants (especially members of the Nightshade family like Tomato) from growing under them. The husks of Black Walnut fruit can be used to make a yellow or brownish dye. They were used to dye Confederate Uniforms during the Civil War due to the lack of commercial dyes available in the south. Black Walnut trees are often available from nurseries. They prefer a moist, organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun. It is intolerant of shade, and difficult to transplant because of its long taproot.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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