General Description | A large coarse looking tree with light green compound foliage. |
ID Characteristic | Five leaflet leaves and a nut with 4-6 distinct ridges. |
Shape | Oval pyramidal with pendulous branching habit. |
Landscape | Very limited use in the landscape. Produces Juglone which limits what is grown around or under it. |
Propagation | Nuts should be soaked in water at room temperature for 2-4 days with water changes 1-2 times per day. Stratify in a moist medium at 4 °C for 30-150 days. Plant in 3 gallon containers in a bark medium, cover with a screen and place outside over winter. Germination takes place in the spring. Produces a pronounced tap root with minimal shoot growth in the first year. Cultivars are budded or grafted on seedling understock. |
Cultivation | Well drained to dry, fairly rich soil. |
Pests | Tent caterpilars are occasionaly a problem. |
Notable Specimens | The A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario. |
Habitat | Climax forests, hillsides and ridges. |
Bark/Stem Description | Smooth gray-brown developing rounded ridges that form an irregular diamond shaped pattern. |
Leaf Description | Alternate, pinnately compound with 5 leaflets, about 20-30 cm long. |
Flower Description | Monoecious - Male is in 7.5 cm drooping catkin, female in few-flowered terminal spikes |
Fruit Description | Nutlet - subglobose 2-3 cm long with 4 to six distict ridges, seeds are bitter sweet. |
Colour Description | Green in summer, rich golden yellow in autumn. |