Texas Walnut
Juglans microcarpa
Last reviewed: September 2026
Texas walnut is a small deciduous tree that grows best in full sun and blooms in April and May. It tolerates medium water and handles drier soils once it is established.
Toxicity unknown
Texas Walnut (Juglans microcarpa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Texas Walnut is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
240"–480" H × 180"–360" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
KS, NM, OK, TX
Pollinators
beetles, wasps
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A medium-sized native tree that grows 20-40 feet tall with a rounded canopy. It produces small edible nuts and has compound leaves that turn yellow in fall. This drought-tolerant tree blooms in spring with inconspicuous flowers.
Growing Texas Walnut
Grow Texas Walnut in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 480 inches tall and spread 180 to 360 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Texas Walnut is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone, street edge.
- Nuts may create minor cleanup issues
Wildlife value
Supports beetles and wasps during its spring bloom period. The nuts provide food for squirrels and other wildlife.
Common questions
- What kind of plant is Texas walnut?
- Juglans microcarpa is a small to medium deciduous tree, often multi-trunked, that grows along creek bottoms and dry washes in the southern Great Plains.
- How much sunlight does Texas walnut need?
- It grows best in full sun, though young trees can tolerate some part-sun conditions.
- How much water does Texas walnut require?
- It does well with medium water but is drought tolerant once established, which suits the hot, dry summers common in its range.
- When does Texas walnut bloom?
- It typically flowers in April and May, with separate male and female flowers appearing on the same tree.
- What pollinates Texas walnut?
- Beetles and wasps are among the insects observed visiting its flowers, though wind also plays a role in pollen movement for this species.
- Is Texas Walnut toxic to livestock?
- Texas Walnut is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
- Is Texas Walnut HOA-friendly?
- Texas Walnut is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Texas Walnut? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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