Walnut Fernor
An outstanding French walnut cultivar valued for its late leafing habit and exceptional nut quality. Juglans regia Fernor emerges late in Spring, effectively escaping damaging late frosts, making it a reliable choice for cooler climates. The tree forms a neat, manageable canopy with large, aromatic pinnate leaves that turn a rich butter-yellow in Autumn. Known for its early fruiting, Fernor yields heavy, consistent crops of thin-shelled, easily cracked nuts with delicious light-coloured kernels. Fully self-fertile and resistant to walnut blight, it makes an ideal specimen tree for home orchards and productive gardens. As a cultivated variety, it is much smaller than wild/uncultivated varieties, however as with all walnuts, it produces juglone, which can inhibit the growth of some nearby plants.
Site: Sheltered or moderately exposed
Soil: Deep, moist, well-drained, fertile soil; adaptable to neutral or alkaline ground, dislikes waterlogging
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Spring to Autumn foliage, with nut harvest in early Autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: up to 26-39' (8-12m) if left unpruned
Spread: 20-26' (6-8m) if left unpruned
Pollination: Fully self-fertile, but increased yields with another walnut companion variety nearby
Uses: Produces heavy crops of high-quality walnuts, suitable for fresh eating, cooking, or preserving; also valued as a landscape and orchard tree
Image by Nikolaj Potanin cropped, and licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0
