Black walnut is one of those trees that commands respect the moment you learn its story. This towering tree can reach 50 to 75 feet at maturity, with a broad canopy and deeply furrowed bark that only gets more handsome with age. Come fall, its compound leaves turn a soft golden yellow, and the tree drops its signature round, husked nuts, a favorite forage for squirrels and other wildlife.
 
Black Walnut does produce juglone, a natural compound that can affect nearby plants, so it's worth thinking through your companion planting before you commit to a spot. Give it plenty of room to grow, and this long-lived native will reward you with shade, wildlife value, and a genuine connection to the forests that once blanketed much of the eastern U.S.
 
photo by James St. John