Description
Large, deciduous North American tree
Description: Forms an open, spreading crown with large horizontal branches; oval, sweet and buttery edible nuts form in late summer to fall
Habit: Reaches 40 to 60 feet in height with a spread of 30 to 50 feet; slow growing
Culture: Prefers full sun and moist, rich, deep soils
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3 through 7
Origin: Eastern North America
Attributes: Edible nuts
Jefferson-documented
Like other walnuts and hickories, this is an important timber tree found in North America’s deciduous forests from New Brunswick to Georgia, west to the Dakotas and Arkansas. The inner bark of the Butternut is a mild cathartic and was used as an orange or yellow dye during the Colonial Period. In 1786, while serving as Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson requested seeds of this and other native trees from Philadelphia nurseryman and naturalist John Bartram and from Richard Cary. Butternuts have been cultivated since 1633 and are currently endangered in the wild due to a fungal disease called butternut canker. Like its close relative the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), the Butternut produces juglone which is toxic to some other plant species unless they are planted outside the tree’s drip line.
This plant will ship bare root. Approximately 3' tall.
Bare root planting tips:
~ If you can't plant immediately, store your plant in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center.
~ Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery.
~ Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.
