Black Walnut

Native to Eastern and central north America, and introduced to Europe in the 1650's, Juglans nigra is among the top timber growing trees suitable for the Irish climate, praised by all sorts of craft people for its excellent durability and attractive dark timber. As a tree it grows into a large spreading tree, with a beautiful rounded canopy, bearing golfball-sized fruit with bright green husks, which decay to reveal the shell, which contains within, the edible 'meat'. Good choice for larger gardens, equally good in an Agro-forestry plantation. Black walnut is also allelopathic, which means that it releases chemicals from roots and other tissues that give the tree a competitive advantage. Will only fruit well after a good Summer, so not a reliable nut producer in Ireland, but a beautiful tree.

Site: Requires shelter from coastal wind
Soil: Prefers well-drained
Position: Full sun
Season of Interest: Autumn fruit, attractive large leaves
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 40ft (12m) Spread: 40ft (12m) in approx 25 years