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Black Walnut vs Thornless Honeylocust
Juglans nigra
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis
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.
Thornless Honey Locust makes an excellent shade tree with its lacy foliage and dappled shade. The leaves are honey-yellow, light and airy, providing interesting color and texture to your landscape. This variety is thornless, and the seeds and pods provide food for wildlife such as deer and squirrels.
The Thornless Honey Locust is tolerant of drought, various soil conditions, and even road salt.