Nut Thomas Black Walnut

Thomas Black Walnut

Juglans nigra ‘Thomas’
Thomas Black Walnut / Thomas Nut Black Walnut

Juglans nigra ‘Thomas’ is a deciduous native black walnut cultivar grown for edible nuts, shade, wildlife value, and valuable dark hardwood. It has compound green foliage, a broad rounded canopy, and green-husked walnuts that ripen in fall. ‘Thomas’ is one of the oldest named black walnut cultivars; the Walnut Council notes it was discovered in Pennsylvania in 1881 and became well known for early bearing, large nuts, good cracking quality, large kernels, and good flavor.

Type: Deciduous nut tree
Mature Size: 40–65 ft. wide × 40–65 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 4a–9b
Form: Large shade / nut tree with a broad, rounded crown
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Average, deep, moist but well-drained soil; moderate water, especially during establishment and nut development
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; male catkins and small female flowers, wind-pollinated and not showy
Wildlife: Nuts are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, deer, turkey, and other wildlife; the tree provides cover and habitat. Flowers are wind-pollinated rather than showy for bees or butterflies.

Features & Landscape Uses:
Good for large yards, farms, edible landscapes, nut orchards, wildlife plantings, native plantings, and shade where there is plenty of room. ‘Thomas’ is valued for large, thin-shelled, easy-to-crack nuts with excellent flavor. NC State lists Juglans nigra ‘Thomas’ at 40–65 ft. tall and wide, growing best in full sun and average well-drained soil, and notes the spring flowers are followed by large, thin-shelled, easy-to-crack nuts.

Pollination:
Black walnut is monoecious, with separate male and female flowers on the same tree, but cross-pollination with another black walnut cultivar usually improves nut set. For best production, plant another compatible black walnut nearby. A cultivar reference notes that Cranz, Thomas, and Neel #1 make a good pollination group because their bloom timing overlaps.

Care:
Plant in full sun with deep, well-drained soil and plenty of space. Water regularly while young, then during drought or nut development as needed. Prune in late winter to develop a strong central leader and remove dead, crossing, or damaged limbs. Watch for anthracnose, walnut caterpillars, walnut husk fly, walnut weevil, cankers, and leaf spot. Black walnut produces juglone, which can inhibit sensitive plants such as azaleas, peonies, blueberries, tomatoes, and some other vegetables beneath or near the dripline. 

Plant type

Nut Tree, Shade Tree

Height

40-65'

Width

40-65'

Hardiness zones

4–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Spring

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Yellow

Attracts

Bees, Birds, Squirrels

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Nuts, Provide Shade

Shape

Broad, Rounded, Upright

Drought tolerant

No