Black Walnut vs Tulip Tree - TreeTime.ca

Black Walnut vs Tulip Tree

Liriodendron tulipifera

Juglans nigra

Tulip Tree
Black Walnut

Tulip Tree is the perfect shade tree for wide open spaces. It has a shallow and extensive root system, so ensure you give it space to grow. The attractive and showy, yellow-orange, tulip shaped flowers are where this tree gets its name.

Tulip Tree is somewhat rare in Canada but highly sought after as it is difficult to grow. Does best in a moist, well-drained soil.

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.

Tulip Tree Quick Facts

Black Walnut Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $7.49 - SAVE UP TO 25%
Lowest Price: $15.49 - SAVE UP TO 42%
Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 24 m (80 ft)
Height: 14 m (45 ft)
Spread: 14 m (45 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Growth form: upright, oval to pyramidal
Spreading: seeds - low
Suckering: none
Suckering: low


Foliage: 4-lobed somewhat spade-shaped
Fall colour: golden yellow
Flowers: greenish yellow, tulip-shaped
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Nuts: corrugated nut with edible meat
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON
Native to: ON
Other Names: canoewood, tulip poplar, tulip-poplar, tuliptree, yellow poplar
Other Names: american walnut