Black Walnuts

Another juglans native to N. America, as with most walnuts grafted trees are critical for large crackable nuts. Black walnut shells are very hard, these cultivars a bit more crackable and nuts more readily extractable.

A sunny site with deep well drained soil will produce a fast growing tall tree. They can be self-fertile but best to plant two or more.

Images of nuts on blocks courtesy of Arie Bruin of De Acht Plagen

VarietyDescription Availability
BicentenialSeedling of 'Thomas' with some of its characteristics. The original tree grows in Potsdam, NY. It is hardy, vigorous and productive. The nut is large and good cracking.November 2025
CharloisFound by Bastiaan Roduin in the Charlois district of Rotterdam
Large nuts, annually bearing and probably self-fertile.
Now
Emma K.Bears medium to large, thin shelled nuts of excellent flavour; and is heavy and early cropping
Now
Neel 1A very good oval nut with a unique shape. Good anthracnose tolerance, good production, excellent growth with a distinctive central leader and spreading branches. The flavor of this nut is comparable to and maybe slightly better than ThomasNow
StablerProduces some to all nuts with a single lobe. Reported very good flavor and quality if under excellent care but maybe susceptible to anthracnose?November 2025
ThomasVery large nut cracks out easily, thin shell. Bears early, annually, and heavily. Late vegetating. Anthracnose resistant.None
WeschkeCarl Weschcke introduced this hardy selection from Minnesota. The tree is a modest grower and ripens the nuts in mid-September here. The nuts crack out with large kernel pieces. Suited for climate zones 5b-8.Now