tree

Butternut

Juglans cinerea

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Butternut (Juglans cinerea) — a tree, for Full sun, Medium water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermoderate

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium to high
Shadesignificant

Keep apart from

Through the year

Emergence

Bud break and leaf emergence typically occur after the last spring frost and when air temperatures consistently rise above 100C.

Flowering

Flowering occurs shortly after leaf emergence, typically within two to three weeks.

Fruiting

Fruit development begins after flowering and continues through summer, with nuts maturing in late summer to early autumn.

Harvest

Nuts are typically ready for harvest from late September through October as they fall from the tree.

Senescence

Leaves begin to change color and drop with the first autumn frosts and shortening day lengths.

Dormancy

The tree enters dormancy after leaf drop, triggered by the first autumn frosts and decreasing photoperiod.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatescalcium, potassium
Soil textureloam, sandy_loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodsseed, grafting
Difficulty3 / 5
Establishes in~3 yr
Stratificationcold_moist_stratification_90-120_days
Self-seedingModerate

Wildlife & pests

Can host pestsbutternut_canker
Can host diseasesbutternut_canker