White walnut
Juglans cinerea
Last reviewed: September 2026
White walnut (Juglans cinerea) is a deciduous tree that blooms in April and May, growing best in full sun on moist, well drained soils across the eastern and midwestern United States.
Toxicity unknown
White walnut (Juglans cinerea) 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.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
480"–720" H × 420"–600" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 25 more states
Pollinators
wind-pollinated
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A spreading tree with light gray ridged bark, large compound leaves, and sticky ridged husks around oily edible nuts. It is shorter-lived and more open-crowned than its relatives and is in decline from canker disease.
Growing White walnut
Grow White walnut in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 480 to 720 inches tall and spread 420 to 600 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for banded hairstreak.
A confirmed larval host for the banded hairstreak, and the nuts are heavily used by squirrels and other small mammals.
Common questions
- When does white walnut bloom?
- White walnut produces its small greenish catkins in April and May, generally as new leaves are beginning to emerge.
- How is white walnut pollinated?
- White walnut is wind pollinated. Like other members of the walnut family, it produces separate male and female flowers on the same tree, and pollen is carried by air currents rather than insects.
- What growing conditions does white walnut prefer?
- White walnut grows best in full sun to part sun with medium, well drained moisture. It tends to struggle in heavy shade or in soils that stay wet for long periods.
- What does white walnut look like when mature?
- White walnut is a medium to large deciduous tree with light gray bark and compound leaves made up of many narrow leaflets, giving the canopy a fine, feathery texture.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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 White walnut? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz