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Flaigg, Norman G.

Juglans microcarpa

Juglans microcarpa Berl.

Little Walnut, Texas Walnut, Texas Black Walnut, River Walnut, Nogalito, Nogalillo, Namboca

Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: jumi

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

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. The nuts of this species are the smallest of genus.

Squirrels and other rodents consume these nuts, which are mostly shell. The specific epithet describes the tiny marblelike fruit.

From the Image Gallery

19 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Nut
Size Notes: Up to about 30 feet tall, usually shorter.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: KS , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: W. OK, KS & TX to s.e. NM and Coahuila and Nuevo Leon in northern Mexico
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky ravines, hillsides & stream banks

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. It's 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)

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.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FAC		FAC	FAC		FAC		FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

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
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
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

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

From the Archive

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

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: 2022-10-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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