Black Gem Walnut Juglans nigra 'Black Gem'
- Phonetic Spelling
- JOO-glanz NY-gruh
- Description
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Black gem walnut tree is a cultivar of black walnut, a native tree species to North America. It grows rather fast when young but will slow down after it matures, preferring full sun and wet to dry loam or sandy high acidic to slightly alkaline soil. Nut production can sometimes begin as early as 6 years but usually takes many years for a substantial crop. It is heat tolerant when established. The taproot contains juglone which might inhibit the growth of some plants such as azaleas, peonies, some vegetables like tomatoes, and blueberries beneath the tree's dripline. Once used by Native Americans medicinally, it is a source for lumber used in furniture and veneer.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juglans
- Species:
- nigra
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Edible nuts
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat tolerant
- Edibility:
- Edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Brown to black nut inside a fleshy, non-splitting, yellow-green husk that heavily stains skin and clothing. Displays in October. The edible nut inside is large and light-colored with high nutmeat percentage.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Single-stemmed catkins 2 ½ to 5 ½ in long, short spiked near twig and yellow-green in color, appearing from April to May. Monoecious.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 12-24" long leaves with 15-23 leaflets, ovate-lanceolate and finely serrate. 3-lobed leaf scar resembling a monkey face. Leaves drop sporadically during the season. More ovate, more leaflets, and less serrated margins than pecan.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Diamond
- Bark Description:
- Brown ridged and furrowed with rough diamond pattern bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Encircles a bud
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Pith (Split Longitudinally):
- Chambered
- Stem Description:
- V-shaped leaf scar with a bud nestled inside. The surface has raised lenticels and the pith is chambered.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
