Black Walnuts

Although black walnuts are a little more difficult of a nut to crack, their distinctive flavor is remarkable and preferred during the holiday season in cakes, breads and other sweet treats. As a natural tree, their nuts also have a large amount of nutritional value, especially protein.  Walnut trees are prized for woodworking products like furniture, flooring and cabinets.  Throughout history, the tannins in the walnut husks have been used for dyeing a variety of fabrics.

Black walnut trees, native to NC, provide wide swaths of backyard shade all summer and luminous yellow foliage in the fall. In addition to providing a delicious ingredient for desserts, they are also an excellent tree for wildlife. Their nuts mature in late October, providing an important food source for squirrels, raccoons and bears during the cold winter months.

One interesting aspect of black walnut trees is the presence of a substance called juglone, which is found in the roots, husks, and leaves of these trees. Juglone is a respiratory inhibitor to other plants, and by secreting this substance into the soil around it, the black walnut effectively out-competes a number of other species. This is known as allelopathy, where biochemicals are used by one plant to affect the growth of other plants. There are a variety of understory plants that are tolerant of this chemical.

Black walnut trees prefer well-drained soil and need a fair amount of sunlight. It may take up to 15 years before trees begin producing nuts. These trees produce both male and female flowers, but planting multiple trees is still encouraged.

Although it may take some work to establish these long living trees, the rewards for both you and for wildlife are well worth the effort!

 

 

Sources:

https://www.carolinanature.com/trees/juni.html

https://www.ourstate.com/legends-of-the-fall/