Juglans regia Lake

Lake English Walnut

Juglans regia ‘Lake’
Lake English Walnut / Lake Persian Walnut

Juglans regia ‘Lake’ is a deciduous nut tree grown for shade and edible thin-shelled English walnuts. It has aromatic, compound green foliage, a broad upright to rounded canopy, and green-husked nuts that ripen in fall. Stark Bro’s describes ‘Lake’ as a grafted, self-pollinating English walnut that bears in about 4–5 years, matures around 30–40 ft. tall, and ripens in early October.

Type: Deciduous nut tree
Mature Size: 30–50 ft. wide × 30–50 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 5a–7b; may perform into warmer areas where summers are suitable, but English walnut is not ideal for the hot, humid Deep South
Form: Upright to broad-rounded shade / nut tree
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Moist, deep, organically rich, well-drained soil; moderate water, especially during establishment and nut development
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; greenish male catkins and small female flowers, usually not showy
Wildlife: Nuts are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and other wildlife; flowers are wind-pollinated rather than showy for bees or butterflies.

Features & Landscape Uses:
Good for large yards, edible landscapes, nut orchards, farms, and shade plantings where there is room for a full-sized walnut. ‘Lake’ is valued for thin shells that crack easily, nuts that fall free of the husk when ripe, and a richer “Persian-type” walnut flavor than many store-bought walnuts. Stark lists it as heat-tolerant and self-pollinating, but notes that crops may be larger when planted with Stark® Champion™ English Walnut nearby. Chicago Botanic Garden lists Juglans regia ‘Lake’ as a full-sun shade tree, reaching about 50 ft. tall, hardy in Zones 5–7.

Pollination:
‘Lake’ is listed as self-pollinating, so one tree can produce nuts. For heavier crops, plant a compatible English walnut within about 75–250 ft.; Stark lists Stark® Champion™ English Walnut as a good pollinating partner for ‘Lake’.

Care:
Plant in full sun with deep, well-drained soil and plenty of space. English walnuts develop a deep taproot and can be difficult to transplant, so choose the site carefully. Water regularly while young and during drought. Prune in late winter to remove damaged, crossing, or poorly placed limbs and to build strong structure. Watch for anthracnose, bacterial blight, root rot, canker, leaf spot, shoot dieback, walnut husk fly, fall webworm, and caterpillars. English walnut roots produce juglone, which can injure sensitive plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, peonies, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes near the root zone.

Plant type

Nut Tree, Shade Tree

Height

30-50'

Width

30-50'

Hardiness zones

5–7

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Spring

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Squirrels

Soil

Humus rich, Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Nuts, Provide Shade

Shape

Broad, Rounded, Upright

Drought tolerant

No