Black Walnut Friends and Foes
Black Walnut exudes a chemical (juglone) that is toxic to some plants. Some plants grow great under it, some plants don't.
Plants that don't grow well near walnut are listed first, walnut tolerant plants are listed second.
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PLANTS SENSITIVE OR INTOLERANT TO BLACK WALNUT TOXICITY
Annuals and vegetables: asparagus, cabbage, eggplant, flowering tobacco, pepper, petunia, potato, tomato
Herbaceous perennials: autumn crocus, baptisia, columbine, lily (Asian hybrids), peony, rhubarb
Shrubs: blueberry, red chokeberry, cotoneaster, Amur honeysuckle, hydrangea, lilac, privet, potentilla, rhododendron, yew, and some viburnum shrub species
Trees: European alder, white birch, crabapple species, hackberry, larch, linden, saucer magnolia, mugo pine, red pine, white pine, Norway spruce, silver maple, and some viburnum tree species
Plants That Do Not Grow Within 50 Feet of Drip Line of Black Walnut
Herbaceous Perennials
Colorado Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea
Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis
Asparagus, Asparagus offinalis
*Chrysanthemum Chrysanthumum species (some)
Baptisia australis
Hydrangea species
Lilies, Lilium species (particularly the Asian hybrids)
Alfalfa, Medicago sativa
Buttercup, Narcissus 'John Evelyn,' 'Unsurpassable' 'King Alfred' and 'Ice Follies'
Peonies, *Paeonia species (some)
Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum
Trees:
Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum
European Alder, Alnus glutinosa
White Birches, Betula species
Northern Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis
Apples and Crabapples, Malus species
Norway Spruce, Picea abies
Mugo Pine, Pinus mugo
Red Pine, Pinus resinosa
Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus
Basswood, Tilia heterophylla
Shrubs:
Red Chokeberry, Aronia arbutifolia
Hydrangea species
Mountain Laurels, Kalmia species
Privet, Ligustrum species
Amur Honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii
Brush Cinquefoil, Potentilla species
Rhododendrons and Azaleas, **Rhododendron species (most)
Blackberry, Rubus allegheniensis
Lilacs, Syringa species and cultivars
Yew, Taxus species
Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum
*Viburnum plicatum tomentosum 'Mariesii'
Annuals and Vegetables Transplants
Cabbage, Brassica oleracea capitata
Peppers, Capsicum species (some)
Tomatoes, Lycopersicon esculentum
Flowering Tobacco, Nicotiana alata
Petunia species and cultivars
Eggplant, Solanum melongena
Potato, Solanum tuberosum
double-flowered cole vegetables
PLANTS OBSERVERED GROWING UNDER OR NEAR BLACK WALNUT:
Trees/Shrubs:
Japanese Maples, Acer palmatum and its cultivars
Southern Catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides
Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis
Canadian Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis
Vines and Shrubs
Clematis 'Red Cardinal'
February Daphne, Daphne mezereum
Euonymus species
Weeping Forsythia, Forsythia suspensa
Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus
Tartarian Honeysuckle, Lonicera tatarica, and most other Lonicera species
Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Pinxterbloom, Rhododendron periclymenoides
'Gibraltar' and 'Balzac', Rhododendron Exbury hybrids
Multiflora Rose, Rosa multiflora
Black Raspberry, Rubus occidentalis
Arborvitaes, Thuja species
Koreanspice Viburnum, Viburnum carlesii, and most other Viburnum species
Annuals:
Pot-marigold, Calendula officinalis 'Nonstop'
Begonia, fibrous cultivars
Morning Glory, Ipomoea 'Heavenly Blue'
Pansy Viola
Zinnia species
Vegetables:
Squashes, Melons, Beans, Carrots, Corn
Fruit Trees:
Peach, Nectarine, Cherry, Plum
Prunus species Pear-Pyrus species
Herbaceous Perennials:
Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans
Hollyhock, Alcea rosea
American Wood Anemone, Anemone quinquefolia
Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum
European Wild Ginger, Asarum europaeum
Astilbe species
Bellflower, Campanula latifolia
**Chrysanthemum species (some)
Glory-of-the-Snow, Chionodoxa luciliae
Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica
Flowers
Dutchman's Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria
Leopard's-Bane, Doronicum species
Crested Wood Fern, Dryopteris cristata
Spanish Bluebell, Endymion hispanicus
Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis
Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis
Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum
Cranesbill, Geranium sanguineum
Jerusalem Artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus
Common Daylily, Hemerocallis 'Pluie de Feu'
Coral Bells, Heuchera x brizoides
Orange Hawkweed, Hieracium aurantiacum
Plantain-lily, Hosta fortunei 'Glauca'
Hosta lancifolia
Hosta marginata
Hosta undulata 'Variegata'
Common Hyacinth, Hyacinthus Orientalis 'City of Haarlem'
Virginia Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum
Siberian Iris, Iris sibirica
Balm, Monarda didyma
Wild Bergamot, M. fistulosa
Grape Hyacinth, Muscari botryoides
Sweet Cicely, Myrrhis odorata 'Yellow Cheerfulness,' 'Geranium,' 'Tete a Tete,' 'Sundial,' and 'February Gold'
Sundrops, Oenothera fruticosa
Senstitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis
Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea
Peony, **Paeonia species (some)
Summer Phlox, Phlox paniculata
Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum
Jacob's-Ladder, Polemonium reptans
Great Solomon's-Seal, Polygonatum commutatum
Polyanthus Primrose, Primula x polyantha
Lungwort, Pulmonaria species
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis
Siberian Squill, Scilla sibirica
Goldmoss Stonecrop, Sedum acre
Showy Sedum, Sedum spectabile
Lamb's-Ear, Stachys byzantina
Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana
Nodding Trillium, Trillium cernuum
White Wake-Robin, Trillium grandiflorum
Tulipa Darwin 'White Valcano' and 'Cum Laude,' Parrot 'Blue Parrot,' Greigii 'Toronto'
Big Merrybells, Uvularia grandiflora
Canada Violet, Viola canadensis
Horned Violet, Viola cornuta
Woolly Blue Violet, Viola sororia
Grasses, mostly Gramineae family
OTHER PLANTS TOLERANT OF BLACK WALNUT TOXICITY
Common name / Scientific name
Box elder / Acer negundo
Japanese maple / Acer palmatum & cvs.
Red maple / Acer rubrum
Sugar maple / Acer saccharum
Ohio buckeye / Aesculus glabra
Yellow buckeye / Aesculus octandra
Serviceberry / Amelanchier spp.
Pawpaw / Asimina triloba
Sweet birch / Betula lenta
Yellow birch / Betula lutea
River birch / Betula nigra
American hornbeam / Carpinus caroliniana
Hickory / Carya spp.
American chestnut / Castanea dentata
Southern catalpa / Catalpa bignonioides
Redbud / Cercis canadensis
Fringe tree / Chionanthus spp.
Flowering dogwood / Cornus florida
Hawthorn / Crataegus spp.
Persimmon / Diospyros virginiana
American beech / Fagus grandifolia
Honey-locust / Gleditsia triacanthos
Silverbell / Halesia carolina
Witch-hazel / Hamamelis spp.
Sweet-gum / Liquidambar styraciflua
Tulip-tree / Liriodendron tulipifera
Cucumbertree / Magnolia acuminata
Tupelo / Nyssa sylvatica
Sycamore / Platanus occidentalis
Wild plum / Prunus americana
Pin cherry / Prunus pensylvanica
Black cherry / Prunus serotina
White oak / Quercus alba
Scarlet oak / Quercus coccinea
Shingle oak / Quercus imbricaria
Northern red oak / Quercus rubra
Black oak / Quercus velutina
Staghorn sumac / Rhus typhina
Black locust / Robinia pseudoacacia
Willow / Salix spp.
Sassafras / Sassafras albidum
American elm / Ulmus americana
Slippery elm / Ulmus rubra
SHRUBS
Common name / Scientific name
Devil's walking stick / Aralia spinosa
New Jersey tea / Ceanothus americanus
Fringe tree / Chionanthus virginicus
Pagoda dogwood / Cornus alternifolia
Silky dogwood / Cornus amomum
American hazelnut / Corylus americana
February daphne / Daphne mezereum
Forsythia / Forsythia spp.
Rose-of-Sharon / Hibiscus syriacus
Wild hydrangea / Hydrangea arborescens
Shrubby St. Johnwort / Hypericum prolificum
Juniper / Juniperus spp.
Beauty bush / Kolkwitzia amabilis
Spicebush / Lindera benzoin .
Mock-orange / Philadelphus spp.
Ninebark / Physocarpus opulifolius
Exbury rhododendron / Rhododendron hybrids
Fragrant sumac / Rhus aromatica
Shining sumac / Rhus copallina
Smooth sumac / Rhus glabra
Currant / Ribes spp.
Wild rose / Rosa spp.
Black raspberry / Rubus occidentalis
Purple-flowering raspberry / Rubus odoratus
Elderberry / Sambucus spp.
American bladdernut / Staphylea trifolia
Maple-leaved viburnum / Viburnum acerifolium
Korean spice viburnum / Viburnum carlesii & cvs.
Southern arrowwood / Viburnum dentatum
Black-haw / Viburnum prunifolium
Yucca / Yucca spp
Prickly-ash / Zanthoxylum americanum
EVERGREENS
Common name / Scientific name
Chinese juniper / Juniperus chinensis
Common juniper / Juniperus communis
Eastern red cedar / Juniperus virginiana
Arborvitae / Thuja spp.
Eastern hemlock / Tsuga canadensis
VINES
Common name / Scientific name
Dutchman’s pipe / Aristolochia durior
Bittersweet / Celastrus spp.
Clematis / Clematis ssp.
Honeysuckle / vine Lonicera spp.
Virginia creeper / Parthenocissus spp.
Greenbriar / Smilax spp.
Wild grape / Vitis spp.
Wisteria / Wisteria spp.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, SPRING WILDFLOWERS AND BULBS
Common name / Scientific name
Yarrow / Achillea spp.
Bugleweed / Ajuga spp.
Hollyhock / Alcea rosea
Windflower / Anemone spp.
Jack-in-the-pulpit / Arisaema triphllyum
Wild ginger / Asarum spp.
Aster / Aster spp.
Astilbe / Astilbe spp.
Lady fern / Athyrium spp.
Rattlesnake fern / Botrychium spp.
Bellflower / Campanula spp.
Chrysanthemum / Chrysanthemum spp.
Spring beauty / Claytonia spp.
Fragile Fern / Cystopteris fragilis
Toothwort / Dentaria spp.
Bleeding heart / Lamprocapnos spctabilis
Leopard’s bane / Doronicum spp.
Wood Fern / Dryopteris spp.
Purple coneflower / Echinacea purpurea
Epimedium / Epimedium spp.
Winter aconite / Eranthis hyemalis
Dog's tooth violet / Erythronium spp.
Joe-pyeweed / Eupatorium spp.
Snowdrop / Galanthus nivalis
Sweet woodruff / Galium odoratum
Gentian / Gentiana spp.
Cranesbill / Geranium spp.
Perennial sunflower / Helianthus spp.
Hellebore / Helleborus spp.
Daylily / Hemerocallis spp.
Coral bell / Heuchera spp.
Hosta / Hosta spp.
Virginia waterleaf / Hydrophyllum virginianum
Siberian iris / Iris sibirica
Bush-clover / Lespedeza spp.
Lilyturf / Liriope spp.
Lobelia / Lobelia spp.
Peppermint / Mentha piperita
Bee balm / Monarda spp.
Grape hyacinth Muscari spp.
Daffodil selected / Narcissus spp.
Evening primrose / Oenothera spp.
Sensitive fern / Onoclea sensibilis
Cinnamon fern / Osmunda cinnamomea
Summer phlox / Phlox paniculata
False dragonhead / Physostegia spp.
Mayapple / Podophyllum peltatum
Jacob’s ladder / Polemonium reptans
Solomon’s seal / Polygonatum spp.
Christmas fern / Polystichum spp.
Primrose / Primula spp.
Lungwort / Pulmonaria spp.
Buttercup / Ranunculus spp.
Black-eyed Susan / Rudbeckia spp.
Bloodroot / Sanguinaria canadensis
Siberian squill / Scilla sibirica
Stonecrop / Sedum spp.
Goldenrod / Solidago spp.
Lamb’s ears / Stachys byzantina
Meadow rue / Thalictrum spp.
Spiderwort / Tradescantia virginiana
Trillium / Trillium spp.
Tulip / selected Tulipa spp.
Bellwort / Uvularia spp.
Speedwell / Veronica spp.
Violet / Viola spp.