English Walnut Tree Facts: Learn All About This Popular Plant

The scientific name of the English walnut is Juglans regia, which means the royal nut of Jupiter.

It is also called Persian walnut or Madeira walnut, as it was originally found in southern Europe. There are more than 200 different varieties of walnuts, and some of the most popular ones are the English walnut, the California Black Walnut, and the Butternut walnut.

The walnut is not a true nut but a drupe, or stone fruit, as the husk is soft and fleshy and protects the seed. The English walnut is most often confused with the black walnut, also known as the American walnut.

However, there are many differences between them. Black walnuts are native to America and have been a part of the diet here for a long time. However, the mild taste of the English walnut has made it more popular.

The black walnut has a shell that is hard and difficult to crack. The leaves of the black walnut tree have a distinctive citrus smell, which makes them easy to identify.

In addition to their nuts, walnut trees are also grown for their wood. The wood from these walnut trees can be used to make a number of items, from bowls to furniture.

The walnut tree also has a number of medicinal uses. The leaf can be used to treat acne, skin swelling, and excessive sweating. The leaf is also sometimes used as an ingredient in tanning agents and hair dyes.

Did you know California grows all the walnuts eaten in the United States? The common walnut can be used in cakes, cookies, salads, and a number of other tasty dishes. Some chefs prefer to use the black walnut variety because of its deep and intense flavor.

English Walnut History

Walnuts are said to be among the oldest foods that were first eaten from trees. It has been consumed for more than 100,000 years. The walnut gets its name from Roman mythology.

It is believed that Jupiter, the God of the sky, ate these nuts when he was living on Earth. Therefore, the nuts came to be known as the nuts of Jupiter, or walnuts. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used walnuts as a treatment and in remedies for a number of health issues.

Walnut trees are said to have grown in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and are even mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi, a document that has been dated to be from 1755-1750 BC. In the United States, Franciscan priests started growing these trees in the late 1700s in California.

The English walnut is also known as the Persian walnut, as traders that used the Silk Road, that connected the Middle East and other parts of Asia helped to spread this nut and tree species to other parts of the world.

Characteristics Of English Walnut Trees

The English walnut is a broadleaf deciduous tree, which means it sheds its leaves once a year after the growing season, which is in the fall.

A young English walnut tree will have bark that is smooth and olive-brown in color. However, as these little walnut trees grow, the bark becomes, rough, gray, and fissured. Underneath the bark, the wood is dark brown. The bark is important as it helps to differentiate between the various species of walnut trees, including the black walnut.

As a small tree develops, the branches grow in an upward direction from the short trunk and are green or gray. However, the young twigs of the walnut tree are green.

The leaves of the walnut tree are green, round, and short and change color to bronze in the fall. The leaves are shiny and pinnate, or feather-like.

The leaf structure is compound, which means there are five to nine leaflets with a single leaf at the end. A leaf can be about 10-16 in (25-40 cm) long.

Due to the upward growth pattern of the branches and their leaves, this tree has a broad and high canopy that offers plenty of shade. Compared to other walnut tree varieties such as the butternut walnut and black walnut, English walnut trees have fewer leaves.

The flowers that bloom on this tree in the spring are small and not easily noticeable. The male flowers are about 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and are yellow-green in color. The female flowers can be found in clusters of two to five flowers and form the fruit after pollination.

When the fruit is on the tree, it has a green, fleshy hull or husk that contains the brown walnut. When the fruit falls to the ground, the husk turns dark brown or black and forms a thin shell containing a woody walnut shell with a little walnut kernel inside.

The taste of the nut is most often described as mild, sweet, and pleasant. The soft meat of the walnut in its shell looks like a brain and for this reason, the Greeks called it 'karyon' which means 'head'.

This nut also has a very high amount of omega-3 fatty acids compared to all other species of nuts. This nutrient is essential for the proper functioning of the brain.

The common walnut that is sold is most often from this variety of walnut tree.

Planting And Growth

Those wanting to plant this type of tree can buy young bare tree roots or a potted tree from a local nursery. These trees need deep, well-drained soil such as sand, loam, or clay to grow.

They thrive in areas that receive plenty of sunlight and need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. The amount of sun the tree receives will affect the number of nuts it produces. This tree thrives in a cool climate and not in hot, humid conditions.

These trees grow very fast and can grow as much as 36 in (91 cm) in a single growing season. They can self pollinate or through wind pollination. However, for a better and higher yield of nuts, it is better to plant two different varieties of these trees so as to enable cross-pollination.

Black walnut trees grow wild and are not as widely cultivated as the English walnut tree.

Care And Disease

Urea or manure are used to fertilize English walnut trees in the spring. To reduce issues with pests, it is best to remove weeds and other unnecessary vegetation from around the trees.

Some of the pests that can cause serious damage to this tree are spider mites, walnut husk flies, and borers. Diseases that can damage the tree and affect its ability to produce nuts are various types of rot, walnut blight, and canker.

As with most plants, these trees too need a lot more water or irritation in the hot summer months as it is the time when they grow too. The amount of water will depend on the size of the trees.

In the summer, when green hulls, or the outer covering of the seed, start to fall from the tree, it is an indicator that the nuts will be ready to be harvested during the fall. Hulls that do not fall and remain on the tree become rotten and stick to the shell of the nut.

Shaking the branches of the tree will easily make the nuts fall.

An English walnut tree would need to be pruned annually, preferably in the winter. Dead, weak, and damaged branches would also need to be removed. An expert or a licensed arborist can do the job perfectly.

Some varieties of these trees are better at fighting pests and disease than others. For example, the Forde variety can resist blight more effectively, whereas the Chandler variety is not as prone to pest attacks as other variants.

The larvae of the walnut husk fly feed on the hull and are very difficult to remove. Placing a landscape fabric under the leaves or tree canopy can help to prevent this pest infestation. A spray to get rid of walnut husk flies can also be used.

Another threat to this tree is from the walnut twig beetle that spreads a disease known as Thousand Cankers. Wilting, yellowing, and thinning of foliage and branches dying are the indicators of this disease. A tree affected by this will die within three years.

FAQs

Are English walnut trees messy?

Walnut trees are very messy for a normal garden. In the spring, they produce too much pollen, which can be bad news if you suffer from a pollen allergy.

The catkins, flowers, and nuts fall and create a mess and can stain the patio. The trees are often filled with squirrels that enjoy the fruit and drop the empty husks.

Also, squirrels bury the fruit where it can grow and it can be difficult to get rid of. The leaves that are shed in the autumn can also create a hassle.

Where do walnuts come from?

The English walnut tree is native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia. However, black walnut can be easily found in the US.

Where are English walnuts grown?

English and black walnut trees are grown in the United States and southern Canada. However, they are an important crop in California, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

What does an English walnut look like?

Most of the time, the best way to identify the various species of walnut trees is by the structure of their leaves, bark, and nuts. Although the nuts might look similar, they differ in taste and texture.

The English walnut is often confused with the Black Walnut variety. However, they have a mild taste and a thin, easy crack in the shell.

Are walnut trees protected in the UK?

Yes, walnut trees are protected in the UK and cannot be felled or destroyed. However, you can prune a tree if you need to.

Are English walnuts edible?

Yes, English walnuts are among the best quality and finest seeds of all walnut species.

Where can you grow English walnuts?

These trees can be grown all across the United States and the southern parts of Canada.

How soon after you plant it do you expect to get walnuts from an English walnut tree?

English walnut trees take about four to seven years to produce fruit.

How fast does the Carpathian English walnut tree grow?

The Carpathian English walnut tree grows fast at about 24 in (60.96 cm) per year.