Eastern Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Eastern Black Walnut trees can reach heights of over 150 feet tall, and can live to be 250 years old. A valuable hardwood, it is prized for its dark color, straight formation, fine grain and heavy sturdy strength. The seed of the Walnut tree, the walnut, boasts high levels of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other health-promoting compounds, classifying it as a superfood.  The hulls, the meaty covering of the nut, can be used to make a rich brown dye. High in tannins, they can also be used to tan animal hides. Walnut trees produce a substance known as juglone. Juglone is allelopathic, meaning it keeps other plants from growing nearby, bullying its way through any nearby competing flora.