| Common Name |
California Walnut, California Black Walnut, Southern
California Walnut |
| Latin Name |
Juglans californica |
| Family |
Juglandaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
18-24 / 8-10 |
| Type / Form |
Tree / Medium |
| Native Habitat |
California oak woodlands from 0 to 2,500 feet |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam low in organic
content, well drained |
| Water |
Twice per month once established |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Height X Width |
20 feet X 20 feet, slow growth |
| Protective Mechanism |
None |
| Leaves |
Green deciduous leaves |
| Flowers |
Monoecious; male flowers in yellow-green hanging
catkins, 2 to 3 inches long from last year twigs; female flowers are
very small and occur on short spikes either singly or in clusters of 2
or 3 near the ends of the current year twigs, appearing in spring with
the leaves.
Round nut, 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter; husk is
thin, initially bright green but turning brown; nut is shallowly
grooved, maturing in fall. |
| Bark / Roots |
Gray to brown, shallowly
fissured, ridges flat topped and scaly.
Stout, initially green but
turning reddish brown, buds are scruffy light brown; leaf scar very
large, raised and 3-lobed; pith chambered. / |
| Maintenance |
Considerable litter, some pruning |
| Propagation |
The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in individual deep pots in a
cold frame. You need to protect it from mice, birds, squirrels etc. The
seed usually germinates in late winter or the spring. Plant out the
seedlings into their permanent positions in early summer and give some
protection from the cold for their first winter or two. The seed can
also be stored in cool moist conditions (such s the salad compartment of
a fridge) over the winter and sown in early spring but it may then
require a period of cold stratification before it will germinate. |
| Pests and diseases |
Older limbs prone to termites and wood boring beetles |
| Landscape uses |
Erosion control, fire retardant, background |
| Garden Suitability |
Thornless, Mountain, Songbird, Fire Retardant |
| Nature Value |
Nuts eaten by wildlife, provides cover and nesting |
| Native American Uses |
Nuts eaten, wood used for tools and weapons, bark used
for basketry, shells used for dice |
| Links |
|
| Data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/jugcal/all.html |
| Data |
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Juglans+californica |
|
Images and data |
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Juglans+californica+var.+californica |
|
Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=juca |
|
Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/Dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=519 |
|
Images and data |
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Juglans_californica_var._californica&printable=yes&printable=yes |
|
Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans_californica |
| Images and data |
http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pages/juglans_californica.htm |
| Images and data |
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/68890/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Juglandaceae/Juglans_californica.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=juca |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.cnplx.info/nplx/species?taxon=Juglans+californica |
| Nursery, images, and
data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/363.htm |
| Nursery |
Oak Hills Nursery, 13874 Ranchero Road, Oak Hills, 92345,
760-947-6261 |
| Distribution |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=JUCA |