English Walnut

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Juglans regia

FAMILY: Juglandaceae

Hardiness zone: 4 to 6

Growth habit: Medium to large tree with round to oval crown that makes a nice shade tree in addition to producing edible fruit.

Foliage: Compound leaf with bright shiny green leaves.

Flowers: Male and female flowers are on the same tree and emerge at the same time leaves are unfolding.

Fruit: Trees usually have a nut crop and can produce nuts within five years from time of planting. Since the tree has male and female flowers on the same tree they are somewhat self-fertile. Planting one than one English walnut facilitates fertilization.

Bark: The main trunk is gray and slightly furrowed.

Twigs: Young twigs are light brown in color.

Wood: Tree name Yellowwood is from the color of the heartwood, which has a yellow cast to it.

Insects and diseases: No major pest problems observed on this tree.

Landscape value: This tree is native to Europe and the Middle East. It is also known as Persian walnut. The more cold hardy varieties originate from stock that was growing in the Carpathian mountains of Eastern Europe. The largest English walnut in the state is growing in Grand Junction. Like hickories and other walnut species these trees have a taproot, which make them difficult to transplant. Best performance in the landscape will probably come from smaller planting stock.

Information sources: Yvonne Barkley, Carpathian Walnut -- University of Idaho Cooperative Extension

Photo by Ison’s Nursery