The Common Walnut is not native to Britain, but has been grown here for hundreds of years; it was possibly first brought to this country by the Romans. This is the species grown commercially for its delicious walnuts, and it should produce good crops in all but very cold areas; the tree itself is very hardy, but the flowers are sometimes caught by late frosts.

Site and soil

The Common Walnut needs good well-drained soil, with shelter and full sun to do best. Avoid wet soils. It can withstand very low temperatures.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 5m x 3m
After 20 years 12m x 5m

Leaf and bark

The aromatic leaves are pinnate, divided into 5-9 leaflets. The surface is glossy, and the young leaves are bronzy, later becoming mid-green, then briefly yellow before leaf fall. The bark is smooth and grey with deep, wide fissures.

Flower, seed and fruit

The flowers are greenish catkins, opening in June, followed by smooth green fruits which enclose the husk and nut within.

Uses

Specimen tree, woodland, avenues, commercial cropping. Walnut timber is highly prized and used for furniture and veneers. The nuts are grown commercially as a food crop, and the oil pressed from the nuts has culinary and cosmetic uses. The shells have been used to make hair dyes, and the leaves and husks both yield dyes for other purposes. Both the leaves and the bark have been used medicinally to treat skin complaints.