Large deciduous tree
Dedicuous
Mature height of 80-120 feet, trunk up to 6' in diameter
Usually grows a very wide crown
Requires full sun and neutral soil
Large, edible fruit and seed with a hard shell.
White, inconspicuous flowers
Staple food and shelter for squirells
Hardiness zone 5-9
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
The English walnut has great significance in Catholicism, with the tripartite nut being seen as an allusion to the Holy Trinity, as well as figuring prominately in scripture and in the lives of certain saints.
The tree has a significance in many European cultures, most prominently in the Greeks, Dutch and Italians, who all have folklore and idioms associated with the tree.
It has become naturalized and is extremley common in the UK, and as such the British settlers brought this tree along with them to bring a taste of home to their new environment (as well as to help bolster the Empire's role in the global nut trade). It became an extremely popular ornamental among wealthy settlers in this period.
Specimen photographed found in the Back Bay Fens in Boston, Massachusetts. Part of the Woodland Plants assignment (10/6/2021).
Plant History and Etymology
Juglans comes from a Latin contraction of the phrase "Iovis glans", which means "Jupiter's acorn", while regia means "royal", likely referring to the monarchs of England. It originated in Iran, and was spread around the Old World between the the 4th century BC and 1st century AD, before being introduced to the Americas in the 17th century by the English. The wood is high quality and it is prized for its durability and shininess, being used in flooring, furniture, guitars, gunstocks, and other goods.
Design Considerations
The English walnut is a massive shade tree, but is difficult to plant because of its requirement for rich soil and full sun. Their main use is for food, as walnuts are some of the most commonly eaten tree nuts in the world. The tree has small, white flowers and yellow fall color, but its main aesthetic attraction is the tree's smooth, olive bark. It produces a seeds all through the summer and fall and the nuts are hard and resilient, so litter is a major concern.
Sources
“USDA Plants Database.” 2021. Usda.gov. 2021. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=JURE80.
Wikipedia Contributors. 2021. “Juglans Regia.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. September 7, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans_regia.
https://www.facebook.com/thespruceofficial. 2012. “11 Species of Walnut Trees You Should Know About.” The Spruce. 2012. https://www.thespruce.com/walnut-tree-species-3269725.
Prayer, Rose. 2014. “Walnuts, Thanksgiving, and a Garden Catechism.” Morning Rose Prayer Gardens. November 14, 2014. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/prayergardens/2014/11/walnuts-thanksgiving-and-a-garden-catechism/.
“History - California Walnuts.” 2020. California Walnuts. August 19, 2020. https://walnuts.org/about-walnuts/history/.