Black Walnut vs Sessile Oak

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.

Sessile Oak is a large, long-lived deciduous tree with a wide, rounded crown. It is an important host plant for many pollinators, especially in its native range. Its acorns serve as a valuable food source for birds and small mammals, providing strong ecological value. It differs from many oaks as the leaves grow on longer stalks, whereas the acorns are stalkless. It can live for hundreds of years, with some surviving over 1,000 years in ideal conditions. As it matures, the tree develops a rugged, gnarled structure that provides heavy shade and a distinctive appearance.

More drought-tolerant than other oaks and does not do well in waterlogged or compacted soils.
Native to Europe and is the national tree of Ireland.

Note: Most Oak species can be considered toxic for many animals.

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