11 Walnut Tree Species

The Andean walnut tree is a slow-growing tree that can get up to 130 feet tall. It has grooved, red-brown bark and an oval-shaped canopy.

• Botanical Name: Juglans neotropica
• Other Common Names: Tropical walnut, Colombian walnut, nogal, Ecuadorian walnut, nogal Bogotano
• Native Area: Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
• USDA Zones: Likely 10 and 11
• Height: Up to 130 feet
• Exposure: Full to partial sun; cannot grow in shade

In moist conditions, the tree features a single, stout trunk. In drier conditions, there are usually several slender trunks.

• Botanical Name: Juglans major
• Other Common Names: Arizona walnut, nogal, New Mexico walnut, mountain walnut, River walnut, nogal silvestre
• Native Area: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
• USDA Zones: 6 to 10
• Height: Up to 50 feet
• Exposure: Full sun to part shade

The walnuts from this tree are cultivated for their distinctive and desirable taste. These trees are also grown for its lumber. Many cultivars of this tree have been developed for improved quality nuts or wood.

• Botanical Name: Juglans nigra
• Other Common Names: Eastern black walnut, American walnut
• Native Area: North America
• USDA Zones: 4 to 9
• Height: 50 to 120 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

J. australis is a spreading deciduous tree, up to 80 feet wide, which produces first quality lumber, with its trunk straight up. The immature and mature fruits of this tree are also consumed.

• Botanical Name: Juglans australis
• Other Common Names: Nogal criollo, tropical walnut
• Native Area: Argentina and Bolivia
• USDA Zones: Unknown
• Height: Up to 82 feet
• Exposure: Likely full sun

J. cinerea is a deciduous tree growing up to 60 feet tall. Butternut is a slow-growing species that rarely lives longer than 75 years. 

• Botanical Name: Juglans cinerea
• Other Common Names: Oilnut, white walnut, long walnut
• Native Area: Eastern North America
• USDA Zones: 3 to 7
• Height: 40 to 60 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

The California black walnut can be either a large shrub with 1 to 5 trunks or a small, single-trunked tree. The main trunk can fork close to the ground. It has deeply channeled thick bark that furrows with maturity.

• Botanical Name: Juglans californica
• Other Common Names: Southern California black walnut, California walnut, Southern California walnut
• Native Area: California
• USDA Zones: 8 to 10
• Height: 15 to 40 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

This tree is an Old World walnut tree that is called the English walnut, but it actually comes from China. This tree's history reaches back to stories involving Alexander the Great when he first introduced this tree as Persian in origin.

• Botanical Name: Juglans regia
• Other Common Names: Persian walnut, common walnut, Carpathian walnut
• Native Area: Europe and Asia
• USDA Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: 65 to 115 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

Juglans hindsii has only one confirmed native stand remaining. It is considered seriously endangered in California. It is threatened by hybridization with orchard trees, urbanization, and habitat conversion to agriculture.

• Botanical Name: Juglans hindsii or a variety of Juglans californica
• Other Common Names: Northern California walnut
• Native Area: California
• USDA Zones: 7 to 10
• Height: 30 to 60 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

This is a deciduous tree growing up to 65 feet tall with light grey bark. The male flowers are yellow-green catkins produced in spring when new foliage appears. The female flowers have pink or reddish pistils.

• Botanical Name: Juglans ailantifolia
• Other Common Names: Heartnut, which is specifically Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis, though some set it as its own species (Juglans cordiformis). Siebold walnut is another possible common name for the Japanese walnut.
• Native Area: Japan
• USDA Zones: 4–7
• Height: Usually 40–65 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

The tree is exceptionally hardy (down to at least -50 F), has a relatively short vegetation period compared to other walnuts, grows rapidly and is cultivated as an ornamental in colder temperate regions all over the Northern Hemisphere. Its nuts are edible but small and difficult to extract.

• Botanical Name: Juglans mandshurica
• Other Common Names: Chinese walnut
• Native Area: China, North Korea, South Korea, and Russian Far East
• Height: Up to 82 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

This is a large shrub or small tree (average 10 to 30 ft tall) which grows wild along streams and ravines.

• Botanical Name: Juglans microcarpa. It may also be known as Juglans rupestris or Juglans nana.
• Other Common Names: Texas walnut, little black walnut, nogalito, river walnut, little walnut, dwarf walnut, nogal, Mexican walnut
• Native Area: Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
• USDA Zones: Likely 5 to 7
• Height: 15 to 50 feet
• Exposure: Full sun to part shade