# Walnut (*Juglans regia*) Walnuts grow on tall trees with big leaves. They have hard shells that protect the tasty nuts inside. Squirrels love to eat walnuts too! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Carpathian Walnut, English Walnut, Persian Walnut ![Walnut](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425950/objects/6502.jpg) ## Appearance The Walnut is a large deciduous tree with deeply furrowed, grey-brown bark that becomes increasingly rugged with age. Its broad, rounded crown is formed by large, pinnate leaves, and it produces distinctive spherical green fruits that house the edible, wrinkled nut inside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Juglandaceae - **Genus:** Juglans ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans called walnuts "Jupiter's Royal Acorn" because they thought they were food for gods. - The green outer husk of walnuts was traditionally used to dye hair and fabrics a rich brown color. - Walnut wood is prized by car makers for dashboards and furniture because it's so strong and beautiful. - Walnuts are one of the oldest tree foods, enjoyed by humans for over 10,000 years! ## Special abilities - **Stronghold Shell:** Walnut has a super-hard outer shell that helps protect its delicious kernel from hungry animals and pests. - **Deep Root Drinker:** Walnut has a long taproot that helps it find water deep underground during dry periods to stay hydrated. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-35 m - **Spread:** 15-20 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 100-200 cm - **Lifespan:** 150-250 years - **Fruit Type:** Drupe - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Eastern Grey Squirrel (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Squirrels bury and eat walnut nuts. - **Eats:** [Codling Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/codling-moth) (*Cydia pomonella*) — Its larvae tunnel into and damage walnuts. - **Depends on:** Walnut Husk Fly (*Rhagoletis completa*) — Its larvae feed inside the green husk of walnuts. - **Eats:** Dusky Sap Beetle (*Carpophilus lugubris*) — Beetles feed on decaying walnut husks and nuts. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat walnuts found in the wild unless an adult says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Walnut? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Walnut? 20-35 m ### How wide does Walnut spread? 15-20 m ### Is Walnut edible? Yes ### How big is Walnut? 100-200 cm ### How long does Walnut live? 150-250 years ### Where is Walnut usually found? Forests ### What kind of fruit does Walnut produce? Drupe ## Where to spot - [Aalborg Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aalborg-zoo) — North Denmark Region, DK · Zoo - [Südpark (Düsseldorf)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sudpark-dusseldorf) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Pomologie, Reutlingen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pomologie-reutlingen) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Vexin français Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vexin-francais-regional-nature-park) — Île-de-France, FR · Park [View all places to see Walnut](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/walnut) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Walnut: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/walnut)