walnut seeds for planting Black Walnut Seedlings For SaleBlack Walnut Seedlings (Juglans nigra) Black walnut or eastern black walnut is a large, native nut bearing tree. It is a misunderstood tree and some folks consider it to be a nuisance due to the abundant nuts (and their staining hulls) and because it produces juglone, an allelopathic compound, that makes in somewhat incompatible with certain popular annual vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and asparagus. However, the nuts are edible and have a strong,

Black Walnut Seedlings (Juglans nigra)

Black walnut or eastern black walnut is a large, native nut bearing tree. It is a misunderstood tree and some folks consider it to be a nuisance due to the abundant nuts (and their staining hulls) and because it produces juglone, an allelopathic compound, that makes in somewhat incompatible with certain popular annual vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and asparagus. However, the nuts are edible and have a strong, delicious flavor and can be used anywhere a recipe calls for walnuts. They are tough to crack, but with a hammer and a pair of wire snips the nut meat can come out in quarters consistently. When viewed as a food for humans (or as supplemental chicken feed) the abundant nuts become a valuable asset. Likewise, the staining nature of the hulls can be utilized to make fabric dyes or wood stains. The hard shells can be turned into biochar or burned in your wood stove. Addressing the juglone from walnuts is simply a matter of pivoting your garden plant a bit to choose from the many juglone tolerant fruits and veggies that will happily grow near black walnuts.

If that’s not enough, there are also a number of traditional medicinal uses for various parts of black walnuts, the immature nuts can be made into a strong, dark liqueur called nocino and larger trees can be tapped to make syrup, which is distinctly different from maple syrup and distinctly delicious.

The wood of black walnut is one thing that virtually everyone will agree is wonderful. It is a beautiful, chocolatey brown with contrasting light colored sapwood and lovely grain. It is valued by wood workers, cabinet and gunstock makers. It is one of the more valuable hardwoods in the eastern United States and consistently commands a very high price. 

Black walnut has a fairly fast growth rate once established and can reach mature heights of over 100 feet tall. It is somewhat tolerant of various soil types, but does best in sites with deep, fertile soil with good drainage and lots of sun. Black walnuts, like all walnuts, are monoecious and can technically self pollinate, but will produce best when planted near other seedling walnuts. Plantings should be relatively close to each other (not more than 50 yards apart) since they are wind pollinated. 

We collect our seeds from mature, local trees that have stood the test of time. Our nursery offers bareroot seedlings that are 12-20” tall. Generally hardy from zones 4-9.

Black walnut cannot be shipped to the following states: AZ, CA, KS, TX