English Walnut

Juglans regia

Native to:
Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, Pakistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Juglandaceae
Genus:
Juglans
Species:
Juglans regia
USDA Symbol:
JURE80

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
2500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:
★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acrobasis stigmella, almond moth (Cadra cautella), American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), Greater Red Dart (Abagrotis alternata), Gretchena concitatricana, Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), Luna moth (Actias luna), navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), Newlywed Underwing (Catocala neogama), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia citrana), Penitent Underwing (Catocala piatrix), Prochoerodes forficaria, Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Splendid Royal Moth (Citheronia splendens), Stigmella juglandifoliella, Tearful Underwing (Catocala lacrymosa), Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth (Lochmaeus manteo), walnut spanworm moth (Phigalia plumogeraria), Walnut Sphinx (Amorpha juglandis), Western tussock moth (Orgyia vetusta), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana integerrima)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
squirrels, birds, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers deep soils with good fertility

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification; best sown in fall for natural stratification. Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI