Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Black Walnut Tree, Juglans nigra, is a stately deciduous tree that is native to Central and Eastern North America. Black Walnut is known and highly prized for its edible nuts and its exceptionally beautiful, dark-grained wood. Black Walnut shells are currently used in a range of commercial applications. Trees can reach heights up to 130 ft with canopy spreads of 50 ft. They grow strong and slowly, and are known to have a lifespan of over 250 years.
Black Walnut Trees are valuable large shade trees and will thrive when planted in sunny locations; give them plenty of room to grow their wide canopy. Trees will generally produce a large crop of nuts after 10 years. The nuts are prized and used in favorite recipes, and in cocktails and are a valuable wildlife food source.
Black Walnut Tree Care
Black Walnut Trees are adaptable to many soil types and require full-sun locations. Mature trees typically have long straight trunks with an absence of lower branches. They reach for the sunlight, so plant this tree in an area where it is not competing for resources.
Yellow-green flowers appear in late spring; the male flowers are drooping catkins and the female flowers are short terminal spikes. Female flowers create edible nuts in the fall. Black Walnut Trees are relatively low maintenance and do not require pruning unless damaged or dead branches need to be removed.
When planting a young Black Walnut Tree, consider using a tree guard to protect the trunk from deer rubbing their antlers in the fall, which could damage the young bark. Apply a few inches of natural mulch around the root base after planting, this will help protect the root system from harsh winters and help retain soil moisture.
Black Walnut Tree Spacing
Due to their large size and canopy spread, grow a Black Walnut Tree with plenty of room around it to avoid competing for sunlight and soil nutrients. Best planted out on a larger property in a landscape that has enough space for it to thrive. Plant Black Walnut Trees away from sidewalks, driveways, and foundations, as their root system is strong and could create issues.
Black Walnut Tree Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Trees |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 80 - 130 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 40 - 50 Feet |
| Spacing: 50 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): None |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: N/A |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Disease |
| Tolerates: N/A |
| Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Black Walnut Tree |
| Other Name(s): Black Walnut |
| Scientific Name: Juglans nigra - Eastern Black Walnut |
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!