Butternut

Juglans cinerea L.

Tree
Native
Allelopathic (juglone)

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Toxic to pets

Human edibility

Edible

Edible parts

nuts

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Not yet checked.

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

not stated

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

Toxic to pets at the scope stated in the source line. Keep it away from dogs and cats. Scope of the source: cautious genus-extended.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Look-alike plants. To tell them apart: NC State: butternut and black walnut resemble each other; black walnut husks stain the hands and its stem and crushed leaves have a strong odor..

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Plants that share its name. To tell them apart: Butternut (Juglans cinerea, the tree) is not butternut squash (Cucurbita maxima cv butternut, ASPCA non-toxic). The guide used the squash page by mistake..

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA hardiness zones 3a to 7b (US system).
Mature size: Height 40-60 ft; width 40-60 ft; typical life about 75 years.
Family: Juglandaceae (walnut family)
Where it comes from: Eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec) and the central and eastern United States.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

How we choose sources

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