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Overstory

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Tree with edible nuts. Excellent native nut tree; valuable timber; allelopathic

NativeEdibleMedicinal
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun
WaterLow water
System layerOverstory
Plant typeTree
Plant spacing40-60 ft
Mature size40-60 ft / 40-50 ft
Chill hours800-1200
Soil pH6.0-8.0
HarvestSep–Oct
Expected yield50-100 lbs nuts
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Excellent native nut tree; valuable timber; allelopathic

Disease resistance

Very disease resistant

Pruning

Minimal; remove dead wood

Care

Juglone-producing roots suppress many plants; plan placement carefully

Drought tolerance

High once established

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationSelf-fertile (wind)
Partners requiredSingle tree produces
Compatible partners–
TimingCatkins in spring; wind-pollinated
Oklahoma planting tipJuglone toxicity — plan planting distances from sensitive plants
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

ThomasEmma KSparrowKwik-Krop

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible; Suppressor

Edible parts

Nuts

Companion plants

Black raspberry, currant — keep away from nightshades

Community / companion role

Pollination: Self-fertile (wind); Companions: Black raspberry, currant — keep away from nightshades

Food-forest layer

Canopy

Oklahoma classification

Secondary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 6.0-8.0

KNF / fertility schedule

Minimal; fall compost tea

Maintenance

Minimal; remove dead wood

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.