American Elm vs Black Walnut - TreeTime.ca

American Elm vs Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Ulmus americana

Black Walnut
American Elm

The Black Walnut is a slow growing, large, straight-stemmed tree with an open crown. It produces dense, very hard, edible nuts.

Black Walnut has a deeply-furrowed, black bark. Its leaves are about 1 foot long, composed of 15 - 23 slightly stalked leaflets on a moderately stout stock which provide good dappled shade.

Despite being highly valued for its edible nuts and its shade tree aesthetics, it is rare to see this tree on the prairies.

Note: Black Walnut's roots produce a substance named juglone that is toxic to some other plants. Consider this when choosing where you plant a black walnut, as you will not be able to grow tomato, potato, cabbage, eggplant, blueberry, azalea, rhododendron, lilac, red pine and apple in the surrounding area.

Note: Plant this tree once. It will not respond well to transplanting.

Note: Although self-pollinating, planting two trees significantly improves nut production.

A top CO2 absorbing species. Experts think this tree may help climate change more than others.

American Elm is fast growing, tall tree with a recognizable and pleasing shape.

It's well suited for urban environments because of its non-invasive roots and ability to grow on harsh sites (quite salt tolerant). American Elm develops a wide, dense canopy that provides shade for many city streets around North America.

Black Walnut Quick Facts

American Elm Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $9.99 - SAVE UP TO 50%
Lowest Price: $1.49 - SAVE UP TO 79%
Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 14 m (45 ft)
Height: 30 m (98 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: bright yellow
Nuts: corrugated nut with edible meat
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: very long
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium




Other Names: american walnut
Other Names: water elm, whilte elm