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News and Blog Articles
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You’ve probably heard of Juglans nigra in the context of black walnut wood, which is a luxury material used in everything from china cabinets to hope chests to dining room tables. Black walnut wood is coveted for its colors and striations as much as its heartiness and durability. A black walnut piece of furniture will last for decades to come (if taken care of).
Though they can tolerate less, black walnuts prefer full sun, and need around 6 hours of unfiltered sunlight every day. Luckily, this isn’t usually a problem for them, considering how tall they get. They tolerate a range of soils, and can thrive in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained, wet, and clay soils. They also have some drought tolerance, and are generally disease- and pest-free.
As a deciduous tree, black walnuts lose their leaves in the autumn. During the warm seasons, leaves are a vibrant green, but as the winter months approach, those leaves will turn golden yellow before falling to the ground. When spring rolls back around, black walnuts grow inconspicuous flower clusters. Male flower clusters droop down, while female clusters have terminal spikes. With the help of a little wind, a black walnut can self-pollinate, and the female flowers will grow into delicious black walnuts.
Unfortunately, these beautiful trees come with a catch much worse than their sidewalk-staining fruit. Black walnuts are allelopathic. Basically, this means they suppress the growth of other plant species around them to eliminate the competition for resources like sunlight, nutrients, and water. Black walnuts do this by producing something called juglone, which is toxic to many species of flora. Don’t misunderstand, though, because not all plants are threatened by juglone. Some species even seem to thrive on it, and grow happily and healthily beside the black walnut. With careful planning and a watchful eye, you can easily incorporate a black walnut into your landscape without losing any of your existing flora, and enjoy the gorgeous view and delicious nuts every fall. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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January 2023
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