Juglans cinereaIndiana Native
Butternut
Other Common Names: White Walnut

Family:

Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) 11

Genus:

Juglans (Walnut Butternut) 3

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 574

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 233

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 839

Flower Notes:

Green (Late spring; yellow-green monoecious flowers: males are catkins while females are terminal spikes; not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Dark green, coarse textured pinnately compound summer foliage); Yellow (Fall color; not overwhelming)

Stem Notes:

stout, pubescent or smooth

Fruit Notes:

Green;black (Green immature nut; black mature nut)

Ultimate Height:

40-60 feet

Ultimate Spread:

30-50 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 203

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to soils; prefers moist, rich, bottomland soil

Range:

Northeastern United States

Maintenance:

Medium 83

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (10-20" long) are alternate and odd-pinnate compound with 11-19 (J. nigra has 15-23) oblong to lanceolate, pubescent leaflets, each 2-5" long. Glands are present on the lower side of the leaflets. Petioles have sticky hairs. The hard shelled nuts are 1.5-2.5" long and are more oblong than J. nigra. The paler bark is ridged and fissured, but less so than J. nigra.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

Juglans cinera is a large, rounded tree similar to, but overall smaller than the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). It is not commonly grown for ornamental purposes. The nut, once one is able to crack the hard shell, is edible, sweet, oily, and buttery. Long tap root makes transplanting difficult. This species is valued for its wood and between overharvesting and losses from Butternut Canker (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum), this species has become rare in its native habitat.