Black Walnut vs Big Leaf Maple - TreeTime.ca

Black Walnut vs Big Leaf Maple

Juglans nigra

Acer macrophyllum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Black Walnut
Big Leaf Maple

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.

Big Leaf Maple has a broad, rounded crown and the largest leaves of all the maples. The pleasant shape and large leaves make this maple a striking and attractive tree. In autumn, the leaves turn vibrant shades of gold and orange.

Big Leaf Maple is a soil building species, meaning that it improves the soil conditions where it grows.

Black Walnut Quick Facts

Big Leaf Maple Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 14 m (45 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Foliage: very large in classic maple shape
Fall colour: yellow to gold
Nuts: corrugated nut with edible meat
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: american walnut
Other Names: big-leaf maple, bigleaf maple, oregon maple