What to Grow Under a Walnut Tree?

Black walnuts (Juglans nigra) and butternuts (J. cinerea), and, although to a lesser  degree, other species of walnut and related hickories (Carya spp.), produce a toxic substance called juglone from both their roots and leaves. Juglone is said to be allelopathic, that is to say, toxic to other plants.

Black walnuts and butternuts use juglone as a defense mechanism: by eliminating competing plants, they can more easily dominate the sector and benefit from all the resources: minerals, water, etc. Even their own nuts have trouble germinating in their root zone, ensuring the mother tree can grow without competition.

If you’re growing a walnut or butternut tree, or intend to grow one, don’t give up all hope of having a beautiful and productive garden at its base. There are still many plants that are juglone-resistant.

The following list keeps growing as more and more plants are tested. Expect to see it updated regularly.

Plants That Will Grow Under Walnut Trees

Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs

1. Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
2. Beet (Beta vulgaris)
3. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) zone 4
4. Carrot (Daucus carota)
5. Cherry (Prunus spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
6. Corn (Zea mays)
7. Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) zone 4
8. Maize (Zea mays)
9. Melon (Cucumis melo)
10. Nectarine (Prunus persica nucipersica) zone 6
11. Onion (Allium cepa)
12. Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
13. Peach (Prunus persica) zone 6
14. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) zone 4
15. Plum (Prunus spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
16. Squash (Cucurbita spp.) annual

Climbing Plants

1. Bittersweet (Celastrus spp.) zone 3
2. Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) zone 4b
3. Clematis (Clematis spp.) zones 3 to 8, according to species
4. Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) zones 3 to 7
5. Currant (Ribes spp.) zone 4
6. Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) zone 4
7. Lobelia (Lobelia spp.)
8. Morning glory (Ipomoea nil) annual
9. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) zone 3
10. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.) zones 4 to 8, according to species

Annuals and Biennials

1. Begonia (Begonia spp.)
2. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
3. China pink (Dianthus chinensis)
4. Cleome (Cleome hasslerana)
5. Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
6. Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
7. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
8. Pansy (Violax wittrockiana)
9. Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
10. Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
11. Sunflower (Helianthus annuum)
12. Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)

Perennials

1. Anemone (Anemone spp.) zones 3 à 6, according to species
2. Aster (Aster spp.) zones 2 to 8, according to species
3. Astilbe (Astilbe spp.) zone 4
4. Bellflower (Campanula spp.) zones 3-7
5. Bellwort (Uvularia spp.) zone 4
6. Bergenia (Bergenia spp.) zone 3
7. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
8. Bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.) zone 3
9. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) zone 3
10. Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) zone 3
11. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) zone 3
12. Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.) zones 2 to 8, according to species
13. China pink (Dianthus chinensis) zone 4
14. Christmas rose (Helleborus spp.) zones 4 to 7, according to species
15. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) zones 4-7
16. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) zone 3
17. Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.) zone 3
18. Daisy (Leucanthemum spp.) zones 2 to 5, according to species
19. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) zone 3
20. Dropwort (Filipendula spp.) zone 3
21. Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) zone 3
22. Echinacea (hybrid) (Echinacea x hybrida) zones 3 to 5, according to cultivar
23. Epimedium (Epimedium spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
24. Evening primrose (Oenothera spp.) zone 4
25. Foamflower (Tiarella spp.) zone 3
26. Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) zone 3b
27. Gentian (Gentian spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species
28. Globeflower (Trollius spp.) zone 3
29. Goat’s beard (Aruncus dioicus) zone 3
30. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) zones 2 to 8, according to species
31. Hardy geranium (Geranium spp.) zone 4
32. Hellebore (Helleborusspp.) zones 4 to 7, according to species
33. Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) zone 3
34. Horned pansy (Viola cornuta) zone 4
35. Hosta (Hosta spp.) zone 3
36. Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) zone 4
37. Iris (Iris spp.) zones 3 à 7, according to species
38. Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) zone 3
39. Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium spp.) zones 2 to 6, according to species
40. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia spp.) zone 3
41. Joe-Pyeweed (Eupatorium spp.) zones 4 to 6, according to species
42. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) zone 3
43. Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) zone 3
44. Leopard’s bane (Doronicum spp.) zone 4
45. Ligularia (Ligularia spp.) zones 3-4
46. Lilyturf or liriope (Liriope spp.) zone 6
47. Lobelia (Lobelia spp.) zones 3 to 9
48. Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) zone 3
49. Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) zone 3
50. Meadowrue (Thalictrum spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
51. Meadowsweet (Filipendula spp.) zone 3
52. Obedient plant (Physostegia spp.) zone 3
53. Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) zone 4
54. Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
55. Primrose (Primula spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
56. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) zone 3
57. Queen-of-the-prairie (Filipendula spp.) zone 3
58. Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
59. Sedum (Sedum spp.) zones 2 to 10, according to species
60. Showy stonecrop (Hylotelephium spectabile, syn. Sedum spectabile) zone 3
61. Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
62. Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.) zone 3
63. Speedwell (Veronica spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species)
64. Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersoniana) zone 4
65. Spring Beauty (Claytonia spp.) zones 4 to 6, according to species
66. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
67. Stonecrop (Sedum spp.) zones 2 to 10, according to species
68. Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) zone 3
69. Tiarella (Tiarella spp.) zone 3
70. Toad lily (Tricyrtis spp.) zones 4-6
71. Trillium (Trillum spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
72. Veronica (Veronica spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species)
73. Violet (Viola spp.) zones 2-8
74. Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia pulmonariodes) zone 3
75. Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum spp.) zones 4 to 6, according to species
76. Wild ginger (Asarum spp.) zones 4 to 7, according to species
77. Yarrow (Achillea spp.) zones 2 to 6, according to species
78. Yucca (Yucca spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species

Bulbs

1. Anemone (Anemone spp.) zones 3 à 6, according to species
2. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides spp.) zone 4
3. Crocus (Crocus spp.) zone 3
4. Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) zone 3
5. Dog’s tooth violet (Erythronium spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
6. Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa spp.) zone 3
7. Grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.) zone 3
8. Jonquil (Narcissus spp.) zone 3
9. Narcissus (Narcissus spp.) zone 3
10. Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) zone 2
11. Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.) zone 3
12. Tuberous begonia (Begonia x tuberosa) tender bulb
13. Tulip (Tulipa spp.) zone 4
14. Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) zone 4

Ferns

1. Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) zone 3
2. Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) zone 3
3. Lady fern (Athyrium spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
4. Maidenhair fern (Adiantum spp.) zone 3
5. Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) zone 5
6. Royal fern (Osmunda spp.) zone 3
7. Wood fern (Dryopteris spp.) zones 2 to 8, according to species

Shrubs

1. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) zones 3 to 8, according to species
2. Barberry (Berberis spp.) zones 3 to 8, according to species
3. Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) zone 4b
4. Bladderwort (Staphylea spp.) zones 4 to 6, according to species
5. Burning bush (Euonymus alata) zone 4
6. Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
7. Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) zones 4-6, selon l’espèce
8. Hazelnut (Corylus americana) zone 3
9. Mockorange (Philadelphus spp.) zones 3 to 6
10. Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) zone 3
11. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) zone 6
12. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) zone 5
13. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) zones 3 to 5, according to species
14. Shadblow (Amelanchier spp.) zones 3 to 5, according to species
15. Shrub rose (Rosa spp.) zones 3-7
16. Shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum) zone 3
17. Snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) zone 3
18. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) zone 6
19. Sumac (Rhus spp.) zones 3 to 8, according to species
20. Viburnum (Viburnum spp.) zones 2-8
21. Witchhazel (Hamamellis spp.) zones 4 to 6

Trees

1. American beech (Fagus grandifolia) zone 4
2. American elm (Ulmus americana) zone 3
3. American holly (Ilex opaca) zone 6
4. American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) zone 4
5. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) zone 3
6. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) zone 5
7. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) zone 4
8. Buckeye (Aesculus glabra and A. octandra) zone 4
9. Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) zone 5
10. Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina) zone 5b
11. Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) zone 6
12. Cherry (Prunus spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species
13. Cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata) zone 5
14. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) zone 4
15. Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) zone 6b
16. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) zone 6b
17. Fringetree (Chionanthus spp.) zone 5b
18. Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) zone 6b
19. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species
20. Hickory (Carya spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
21. Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) zone 5
22. Maple (Acer spp.) except silver maple (A. saccharinum), zones 3 to 7, according to species
23. Oak (Quercus spp.) zones 3 to 8, according to species
24. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) zone 5
25. Persimmon (Diosypros virginiana) zone 6
26. River birch (Betula nigra) zone 3
27. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) zone 3 à 5, according to species
28. Shadblow (Amelanchier spp.) zone 3 à 5, according to species
29. Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) zone 4b
30. Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) zone 3
31. Sweet birch (Betula lenta) zone 3
32. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) zone 6
33. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) zone 6
34. Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) zone 6
35. Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) zone 6
36. Willow (Salix spp.) zones 1 to 9, according to species
37. Yellow birch (Betula alleghanensis) zone 3
38. Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) zone 6