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Juglans microcarpa (Little walnut)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Juglans microcarpa Berl.

Little walnut, Nogalito, Texas walnut, Texas black walnut, River walnut

Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)

Synonyms: Juglans microcarpa var. microcarpa, Juglans rupestris

USDA Symbol: JUMI

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Little walnut or Texas walnut is a small, deciduous tree or shrub, usually only 20 ft. in height. Its smooth or lightly furrowed branches form a broad, rounded crown. Pinnate foliage is long, narrow and yellow-green. Walnuts are the smallest of the Juglans species.

Squirrels and other rodents consume these nuts, which are mostly shell. The common and scientific names describe the tiny marblelike fruit, the smallest of the walnuts.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Size Notes: 18-20
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: KS , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: W. OK, KS & TX to s.e. NM & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky ravines, hillsides & stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rocky soils. Limestone-based, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Rocky
Conditions Comments: Little walnut or Texas walnut is a small, deciduous tree or shrub. Its smooth or lightly furrowed branches form a broad, rounded crown. Pinnate foliage is long, narrow and yellow-green. Its walnuts are the smallest of the Juglans species.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Shade tree
Use Wildlife: The nuts provide food for wildlife. Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals, Nesting site, Cover.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Banded hairstreak butterfly

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Juglans microcarpa is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Banded Hairstreak
(Satyrium calanus)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Plant nuts in fall or spring. If nuts are sown in spring, they must be stratified.
Seed Collection: Collect nuts in fall or winter when husks begin to turn black and split open. Remove husks. It is not necessary to remove shell. Sow immediately or keep in moist sand over winter. Nuts lose viability if allowed to dry out.
Seed Treatment: Stratify for 60-120 days at 34-41 degrees.

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Hill Country Natives - Leander, TX

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1988 VOL. 5, NO.5 - Penny Campaign Grows Oklahoma Wildflowers, Wildflower Center Collects Honors, Di...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Juglans microcarpa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Juglans microcarpa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Juglans microcarpa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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