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Black Gem Walnut Juglans nigra 'Black Gem'

Phonetic Spelling
JOO-glanz NY-gruh
Description

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.   

More information on Juglans nigra.

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Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#heat tolerant#edible plant#edible nuts#nuts#single trunk#food source fall#food source herbage#coastal UPL#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#ebh#ebh-fn#juglone#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#heat tolerant#edible plant#edible nuts#nuts#single trunk#food source fall#food source herbage#coastal UPL#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#ebh#ebh-fn#juglone#woodland
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Oval
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat