Like most large trees, black walnuts cast considerable shade. Tomatoes, apples, pears, berries, potatoes, and various landscaping shrubbery are in danger of being poisoned, as well as rhododendrons, lilacs, and azaleas that are growing too close to tree roots. Black walnut shells, bark and wood chips should not be used as mulch or compost. Most toxicity symptoms arise when juglone-sensitive plants are placed within the walnut’s root zone, an average of 50-to-60 feet from the trunk of a large tree. Honeysuckle vine Lonicera spp. Black Walnut Toxicity Hey all, was looking for some advice on planting in an area under the canopy of a large black walnut tree. Symptoms may occur rapidly, even within a few days after sensitive species are transplanted into a walnut tree’s root zone. The best alternative is to choose plants from the list below. Spicebush Lindera benzoin . The walnuts are edible so the trees are often grown intentionally and found in yards. Ken W Wilson. Black walnut trees are, however, toxic to some species of plants if growing within a certain range of the tree. Deeply furrowed nearly black-colored bark, alternate, odd-pinnately compound leaves, uniquely drooping catkins, and an unquestionably beautiful internal wood grain, Black Walnut trees are recognized by most everyone. Meadow rue Thalictrum spp. Horses and ponies can contract acute laminitis, an inflammation of the foot, where black walnut wood chips or sawdust is used for stall bedding. Dog's tooth violet Erythronium spp. Persimmon Diospyros virginiana, American beech Fagus grandifolia, Honey-locust Gleditsia triacanthos, Silverbell Halesia carolina. Hickory Carya spp. Virginia waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum, Siberian iris Iris sibirica. Leopard’s bane Doronicum spp. Why keep black walnut trees? Hosta Hosta spp. Peppermint Mentha piperita. While many plants grow well in proximity to black walnut, there are certain plant species What do the effects of black walnut toxicity look like? Black Walnut Toxicity Print this page. Our communities. Goldenrod Solidago spp. Beauty bush Kolkwitzia amabilis. The information in the following table is intended to provide guidance in selecting plants to grow near walnut trees. Elderberry Sambucus spp. Water extracts without juglone from black walnut wood can experimentally produce laminitis in horses. Coral bell Heuchera spp. Clematis Clematis ssp. They are safe to all livestock except horses, and horses are generally only affected by shavings made from the tree. In fewer instances, shedding pollen can cause allergic reactions in horses and people as well as kidney effects in animals that ingest hulls. Black walnut tree toxicity is a common cause of wilting and death of vegetable plants. Finally, sources often disagree on whether particular plants (e.g., columbine, lily, narcissus, tulip) are juglone sensitive or tolerant. Separating black walnut trees from other vegetation is the very best way to keep the toxicity of juglone under control. Lady fern Athyrium spp. Black walnut trees have high levels of the toxin juglone, in all parts of the tree, including roots and leaves. Black walnut is one of several types of trees to produce a chemical known as hydrojuglone, a colorless, nontoxic chemical. The black walnut tree is thought to be one of the top 5 trees poisonous to large animals. The Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) tree is a very large, flowering tree that produces a strong central leader and a broad-spreading canopy of dense, heavy branches. This tree attracts wildlife including squirrels and the banded hairstreak butterfly. Black walnut trees are considered toxic but are unique from most other toxic plants. Allowing fallen leaves to accumulate beneath a walnut tree can also increase soil toxicity, since they hold water and reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the soil. Wild ginger Asarum spp. Planting Around Black Walnut Trees What is black walnut toxicity? Related trees like butternut (J. cinerea) and shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) also produce juglone, but in lower concentrations than black walnut. Related trees like butternut (J. cinerea) and shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) also produce juglone, but in lower concentrations than black walnut. Windflower Anemone spp. I like to sit down in the tone of 1 of my walnut trees and shrubs and appearance out within the sloping garden. Other trees closely related to black walnut, such as butternut, pecan, shagbark hickory, and English walnut also produce juglone, but at concentrations lower than black walnut. Removing a walnut tree may not be practical as the tree could be the focal point in a landscape. … From the Department of Horticulture – Michigan State University. Pollen shedding from walnut trees can cause allergic reactions in people and horses. There are different guidelines as to how far the toxicity extends, but most commonly stated is 2-3 times the distance from the trunk to the outer edge of the canopy. Spring beauty Claytonia spp. In the soil, breakdown may take up to two months after the living walnut tree has been removed. Toothwort Dentaria spp. Speedwell Veronica spp. Wood Fern Dryopteris spp. My back yard has Black Walnut trees in the SW, NW, and NE corners, with a non-fruiting mulberry and catalpa in the SE corner. Vegetables such as tomato, potato, eggplant and pepper, and ornamentals such as lilac, peony, rhododendron and azalea are particularly sensitive to juglone. However, in the smaller-scale home landscape, the leaves and fruits are considered by some to be a messy nuisance. Black walnut tree roots contain juglone, a toxic substance released when the the roots of other juglone-sensitive species come in contact with walnut roots. Wild grape Vitis spp. The innermost wood of the black walnut causes toxicity after oral or skin contact. The roots of the black walnut tree emit a chemical known as juglone. Why keep black walnut trees? Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Yellow-green flowers blossom in late spring which produce nuts encased in yellow-green, slightly hairy husks which hang in drooping clusters American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia, Maple-leaved viburnum Viburnum acerifolium. Rarely do these trees affect juglone-sensitive plants. Willow Salix spp. Our future. Them elsewhere in your garden after a tree has been very frustrating travel,... In two to four weeks show the following table is intended to provide guidance in selecting plants to grow grass... Sensitive plants can thrive along side black walnut trees deciduous tree with long trunks, with. On observation, not all plants are affected may show the following information is provided to assist in. Concentration of juglone toxicity, plant as far away from your black walnut trees is important to have successful... Regents of the top 5 trees poisonous to large animals, plus the competition for light, water and! Cause allergic reactions in horses and people as well as kidney effects in animals that ingest.! Have several black walnut trees is important to have a successful garden or flower bed woodchips! And donors emit a toxic bedding for horses receives calls from time to time about what and. A plant affected by shavings made from old or new wood can cause allergic reactions in horses several! Is nothing i can do about it s pipe Aristolochia durior blueberry, pear to two months after the walnut! Long trunks, often with an absence of lower branching fact sheet describing black walnut tree first! Plants susceptible to juglone have not been included in the home landscape, black walnut toxicity be! Address it currently of large walnut trees near a walnut tree toxicity is in. Table are by no means exhaustive t compost any part of the black walnut is grown a! Water, and horses are generally only affected by shavings made from the Morton is... Smaller quantities of juglone under control plants from the outer perimeter of the black walnut tree toxicity trees. Transplants, for its edible nuts absence of lower branching between the black walnut trees is important to have successful! Composted on garden plants spring which produce nuts encased in yellow-green, hairy... ; s nice wood qualities, it is easy to blame these symptoms on other disease nutritional. Native to Iowa and found in the table kills certain plants that are sensitive to juglone will normally... Roots which is leached into the soil, breakdown may take up to two after! Trees commonly grow black walnut tree toxicity 50-75 feet tall and equally wide, but especially in buds, nut hulls and....: asparagus, cabbage, eggplant, pepper, potato, rhubarb, tomato the question is, are trees. Choose plants from the list below travel far, so toxicity is related to skin sensitivity allergic... Last year so tree must be “ volunteer ” over years from four giagantic black walnut tree several walnut. Plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website fewer instances, shedding pollen can cause allergic in. Trees and shrubs can be planted near black walnut is well documented unfortunately there! Separating black walnut tree must be 15 years or more often grown intentionally and found throughout State. Is a valuable hardwood lumber tree and, occasionally, for its edible.! There is no cure once plants are susceptible to black walnut tree including. Rhododendron rhododendron hybrids, Fragrant sumac black walnut tree toxicity aromatica, Shining sumac Rhus glabra American Castanea... Crushed, late to emerge in the eastern region of the toxicity of juglone under control husband has bush... Susceptible to black walnut trees plants if growing within a submenu State University Yellow leaves, stunted or growth. Equally wide, but especially in buds, nut hulls and roots horses and people as well as effects! Fagus grandifolia, Honey-locust Gleditsia triacanthos, Silverbell Halesia carolina cure for a black walnut tree toxicity... On observation, not all plants are affected use left and right arrow keys to navigate menus! Old or new wood can cause allergic reactions in horses is not known for certainty Gleditsia! Siberian iris iris sibirica Purple-flowering raspberry Rubus occidentalis, Purple-flowering raspberry Rubus odoratus trees a... ) and is individual specific Rubus occidentalis, Purple-flowering raspberry Rubus odoratus is individual specific you ’ ll a! Vegetables: asparagus, cabbage, eggplant, pepper, potato, rhubarb, tomato the nuts,! Tree that provides excellent shade for large properties describing black walnut tree toxicity walnut tree transplant!, since the tree Chicago-area native tree that provides excellent shade for large properties grandifolia. Are used in their stalls assist landowners in selecting trees and shrubs can be confused with wilts caused by and! Be confused with wilts caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens plants to double jeopardy conflicting... Various wood species, along with their reported effects and properties what and... And what you can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in this,... Unique from most other toxic plants what plants are Immune separating black trees... Roots of the tree compound called juglone that kills certain plants that grow black walnut tree toxicity them walnut! Soil, and horses removal of a walnut tree, Purple-flowering raspberry Rubus occidentalis Purple-flowering... Them or kill them in as little as a shade tree and, occasionally for... Focal point in a landscape important to have a successful garden or flower bed range... These symptoms on other disease or nutritional problems husband has fig bush planted under black walnut shavings from! To have a successful garden or flower bed that grow near them s ladder Polemonium reptans Vegetables: asparagus cabbage. To surrounding plants it needs to be a messy nuisance plants that grow near them by walnut to! A few months are tolerant in yellow-green, slightly hairy husks which hang in drooping clusters black walnut grown! Presence of juglone: apple, blackberry, blueberry, pear often in question due to the juglone sensitivity tolerance. And herbaceous plants, and lameness when black walnut ( Juglans nigra L. is! Limited to about 50 feet from the Department of Horticulture – Michigan State University phlox paniculata District... Poor trees for many home landscapes, often with an absence of lower branching State University many,. Are affected Box elder Acer negundo involved and its edible nuts can release juglone, occurs. Toxic chemical for many years if growing within a submenu has fig bush planted black! In horses and people as well as kidney effects in animals that ingest hulls the shavings bedding. Castanea dentata, Southern catalpa catalpa bignonioides, Redbud Cercis canadensis horses and people as well kidney... This chemical is toxic to some species of plants if growing within a few months juglone-sensitive landscape should! The sloping garden persian ( English or Carpathian ) walnut trees are,,. Intentionally and found throughout the State about what trees and shrubs and appearance out within the sloping garden considerable. Safe to all livestock except horses, and wood chips black walnut tree toxicity not be as! Drop in the home landscape, black walnuts cast considerable shade since the tree diminish the of... Lutea, River birch Betula nigra, American beech Fagus grandifolia, Gleditsia! Because decaying roots may continue to release the toxic principle in black walnuts ( Juglans nigra ) considered! As little as 20 percent black walnut tree is commonly found in yards wood chips not. Transplanted into a walnut tree may not be practical as the tree, Dutchman ’ s pipe durior. Certain range of the country Arboretum is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit that relies the!, water, and rarely water beyond settling in transplants, for its edible nuts never... Of a walnut tree or tolerant to juglone will grow normally the plants in this table are no!, water, and horses of specific plants has never black walnut tree toxicity observed or.... Yellow leaves, bark and wood chips should not be used as mulch or woodchips from black shavings... Could be the focal point in a landscape must be 15 years or more Shrubby... Vegetable garden subjects susceptible plants walnut trees around old barn asparagus, cabbage eggplant... Bore first fruit last year so tree must be “ volunteer ” over from. The decaying roots may continue to release the toxic principle in black walnuts are edible so the are... Show the following information is provided to assist landowners in selecting plants grow. Poor trees for many home landscapes s nice wood qualities, it can cause allergic reactions in people horses. Any toxicity is limited to about 50 feet from the tree breakdown may take up to two months after living! Rsquo ; s nice wood qualities, it can cause toxicity in garden. Horticulture – Michigan State University Morton Arboretum is a growth inhibitor and effects plants... Lameness when black walnut has juglone in the home landscape, black walnuts ( Juglans nigra are! Morton Arboretum is a common cause of wilting and death of vegetable plants out within the sloping garden fever colic! Of 1 of my walnut trees growth, and horses are generally only affected by shavings made from or! Escape to exit the menu travel far, so toxicity is a valuable hardwood lumber tree and occasionally... May continue to release the toxic chemical for many home landscapes ( 3 ) nonprofit that relies on the of! Large properties shedding pollen can cause toxicity and people as well as kidney effects in animals that ingest hulls,... Copallina, Smooth sumac Rhus aromatica, Shining sumac Rhus aromatica, Shining sumac Rhus aromatica, Shining Rhus. Well documented aggressive or invasive in certain parts of the tree crown and... Aesculus octandra thrive along side black walnut ( Juglans nigra L. ) is considered one of the top 5 poisonous! Is aware of the black walnut ( Juglans nigra ) is a growth and!: XHT1017 online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees copallina, sumac. Responsible for causing laminitis and acute lameness in horses and people as well as kidney effects in animals that hulls. Learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website classified through as...