Juglans cinerea (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late spring to early Summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 25m
Eventual Spread: 20m
Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Family: Juglandaceae
Juglans cinerea is a fast growing, comparatively short lived, deciduous tree with a broad crown. Its bright green leaves are odd-pinnate, composed of up to 17 leaflets and up to 70cm long. Its leaflets are ovate with serrulate margins, up to 10cm long and 5cm across. Its leaves turn yellow in autumn before they fall. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of 1m. Its bark is grey/ black and deeply furrowed. The species is dioecious. Male plants bear yellow/ green flowers in the form of drooping catkins which are up to 14cm. Its green female flowers are have pink stamens, are small and insignificant, are terminal and appear in groups of up to five. Its fruit are green/ brown, up to 6cm across when ripe in autumn and contain edible walnuts.
Juglans cinerea Leaf (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)
Juglans cinerea, commonly known as the Butternut, is native to eastern North America. In its native habitat it usually grows in riparian zones but also grows on dry rock soils, especially limestone. Its roots, leaves and nut husks secrete a substance, Juglone, into the soil which inhibits the growth of some plants.
The etymological root of the binomial name Juglans is from the classical Latin name for Juglans regia. Cinerea is from the Latin cinereus meaning ‘ash coloured’.
The landscape architect may find Juglans cinerea useful as a large fruiting tree, it may be suitable for a community garden where space allows. It is also suitable as an attractive parkland tree.
Juglans cinerea Bark (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Juglans cinerea fruit are attractive to some mammals who eat its nuts.
Juglans cinerea prefers moist, humus rich, deep, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Juglans cinerea requires little maintenance. Necessary pruning should be carried out in summer to early autumn while the tree is still in full leaf. Suckers should be removed as the appear.
Landscape Architecture
