Plant Details

Juglans cinerea

White Walnut, Butternut

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Common names

29 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • White Walnut[2]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • boternoot[2]
  • Grijze walnoot
  • witte walnoot[2]
French
  • Noyer cendré[2]
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • ořešák popelavý[2]
Estonian
  • hall pähklipuu[2]
Finnish
  • amerikanjalopähkinä[2]
German
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Weiße Walnuss[2]
Italian
  • Noce cinereo[2]
Japanese
  • バタグルミ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Pilkasis riešumedis[2]
Norwegian
  • smørvalnøtt[2]
Polish
  • Orzech szary[2]
Portuguese
  • Noz-branca[2]
Russian
  • Орех пепельно-серый[2]
  • Орех серый[2]
Slovak
  • orech popolavý[2]
Spanish
  • Nogal blanco americano[2]
Swedish
  • grå valnöt[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Juglans cinerea L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Butternuss (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154701; taxon 3QRSG.
  • Butternut (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154702; taxon 3QRSG.
[2] Juglans cinerea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Butternut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Nogal blanco americano — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Noz-branca — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • ořešák popelavý — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • hall pähklipuu — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • smørvalnøtt — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Орех серый — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • amerikanjalopähkinä — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Orzech szary — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • バタグルミ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • witte walnoot — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • boternoot — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Pilkasis riešumedis — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Butternut Tree — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • noyer cendré — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • 灰胡桃 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Noce cinereo — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • grå valnöt — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • white walnut — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • oilnut — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • ᎪᎯ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • orech popolavý — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • 白胡桃 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Орех пепельно-серый — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Butternuss — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Graue Walnuss — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Graunuss — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.
  • Weiße Walnuss — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 54792; Juglans cinerea.

General information

Scientific name: Juglans cinerea
Accepted name (Kew): Juglans cinerea L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Juglandaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Juglans (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: White Walnut, Butternut
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 12.19–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 12.19–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Broad, Irregular, Open, Rounded, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Oil, Seed, Sap
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Herbicide, Oil, Wood

Description

The seeds of this plant are eaten raw or ground into powder and then used in baked goods such as cakes, cookies, muffins, and bread. They have an oily and sweet flavor with a rich and pleasant taste. Note that the oil in the seeds is not stable and quickly becomes rancid once opened. The seed, which makes up only about 20% of the weight of the whole seed, is difficult to extract. The immature fruits can be pickled. Each fruit has a diameter of 3 to 6 cm and grows in clusters of 3 to 5 fruits. Edible oil can be extracted from the seeds, but it also quickly goes rancid. In spring, the sweet sap is collected and can be consumed as a refreshing drink. The sap can also be boiled down to a syrup or sugar, or added to maple syrup.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 15/11

Crown

Crown shape: Rounded and spreading
Sources [3]
Crown density: Open
Sources [3]

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 36332; name ID 2331809; Juglans L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 36328; name ID 2331793; Juglans cinerea L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Juglans cinerea

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 460501, ID 3QRSG: Juglans cinerea L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Juglans cinerea — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Crown shapeCrown densityHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Crown density: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .