Juglans nigra 12ltr pot

Juglans nigra – Black Walnut – 12 Litre Pot

The Black Walnut is a truly majestic tree, planted for generations to come. Native to the eastern United States, it develops into a broad-crowned giant with large, elegant pinnate leaves made up of numerous slender leaflets, giving the canopy a lush, almost tropical texture. Long catkins appear in spring, and mature trees go on to produce round green fruits enclosing hard-shelled, richly flavoured walnuts. With its dark, deeply furrowed bark and imposing silhouette, it makes a magnificent specimen for parkland, estates, paddocks and very large gardens.

Holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it is fully hardy (RHS H6) and grows in chalk, clay, loam or sand of any pH, provided the soil is moist but well-drained or free-draining. Plant in full sun, in an exposed or sheltered position with plenty of space around it. Like all walnuts, its roots and fallen leaves release a natural compound called juglone, which can inhibit the growth of some neighbouring plants, particularly vegetables such as tomatoes, so site it away from kitchen gardens and borders. The green husks can also stain paving and hands, and fallen fruits are best cleared promptly so that pets cannot chew them.

Plant between autumn and early spring, stake firmly and water well through the first couple of seasons while it establishes. Little pruning is needed; any necessary work is best done in late summer, as walnuts bleed sap heavily if cut in late winter or spring. This is a long-term tree, taking more than 50 years to reach its ultimate size of over 12m in height and more than 8m in spread.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.