Walnut

The Walnut tree is among the most versatile hardwoods on the planet. In addition to yielding exceptional tasting nuts, its timber is treasured by carpenters and sculptors alike. The Walnut tree's wide array of uses also makes it a popular pick for homeowners looking to decorate their properties with a practical and profitable specimen.

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Walnut trees are hard to miss. A mature tree can tower up to 100 feet tall with a leaf canopy of more than 40 feet wide, though most average between 60 and 70 feet. The tree is also very durable, with some living 200 years.

In addition to its formidable physical presence and longevity, the Walnut tree has a number of other notable characteristics, including:

Leaves:

Walnut leaves are compound, meaning they are composed of a main stem and numerous separate leaflets. Up to 23 leaflets can be found on a single leaf. The long leaves remain green until autumn when they turn yellow and fall off the tree.

Fruits:

The tree's fruit is by far its most noteworthy trait. The walnut is housed in a hard, round, brown shell which features a host of grooves and furrows. The shell of the Black Walnut is green, though it turns blackish as the nut ripens.

Flowers:

The Walnut tree's flower is a yellowish-green drooping catkin which covers the tree in the spring.

Bark:

The bark of a mature Walnut tree sports deep ridges which form a diamond-like pattern. The bark's color ranges from a rich brown to dark gray.

Walnut trees are also fast growers with some shooting up to 25 feet in less than 10 years.

Walnut Tree Types:

Black Walnut Tree

  • Japanese Walnut

  • Bolivian Walnut

  • Southern California Walnut

  • Northern California Walnut

  • West Indian Walnut

  • Manchurian Walnut

  • Andean Walnut

  • English Walnut

  • Little Walnut

Walnut trees may vary in size; however, they are harvested the same way by hitting the ends of the branches with a solid object. Knocking off both the nuts and the branch tips encourages new growth.