Black walnut

Scientific name: Juglans nigra

A rapidly growing tree found in all of Ohio, the black walnut is one of the most widespread and commercially viable trees in the Eastern United States. The fine-grained, lightweight heartwood is a prime choice in the making of furniture, gunstocks, and veneer. The nut of the black walnut is round and frequently buried by squirrels, resulting in its wide propagation. When young, the tree grows quickly, dividing its branches to give it its upright, rounded shape into adulthood. The roots of the black walnut excrete a toxic substance which prevents various garden plants, such as tomatoes, from growing near to its trunk.

Photo from Grandview Heights TreePlotter.

The leaves of the Black Walnut do not turn much upon the arrival of fall, instead dropping its leaves toward the end of summer.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?

The brown-gray and gray-black color of the bark perhaps contributes to the tree’s common name.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?

Almost all of black walnut timberland is on private land, accounting for 15 million acres in the United States and the vast majority of black walnut trees sold commercially.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?