{"title":"Walnut Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere's something rather magnificent about a walnut tree – stately, long-lived, and a reliable supplier of those wrinkly, brain-shaped beauties that go so well with a good cheese.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"black-walnut-sapling-plants-juglans-nigra","title":"Black Walnut Sapling Trees","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBlack Walnut Sapling Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eBlack Walnut\u003c\/strong\u003e tree, \u003cstrong\u003eJuglans nigra\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a vigorous, deciduous plant with excellent nuts (although they're tricky to open). The husk of the nut stains everything black (so wear gloves) and the kernel is harder to remove from the inner shell than the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/english-walnut-sapling-plants-juglans-regia\"\u003ecommon walnut\u003c\/a\u003e, but we promise that it's all worth the effort! \u003cbr\u003eBlack walnut timber is highly prized and well grown, mature trees are now worth a great deal of money, so why not plant a few as a pension? Kill two birds with one stone, and use it as a screening tree at the same time. It'll eventually reach about 30 metres high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our range of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/edible-nut-trees\"\u003enut trees\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/fruit-trees\"\u003efruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack Walnut plants are \u003cstrong\u003eonly delivered bareroot\u003c\/strong\u003e, during winter (Nov-March). All of our young trees and shrubs are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Black Walnut Trees\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable for any fertile, deep, well drained soil, they do need full sun. If you want good crops, a sheltered location is ideal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo keep your tree at a relatively manageable size, the standard practice is to prune out the leading stem and maintain them as an open centred goblet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note: \u003c\/strong\u003eWalnuts do not crop reliably North of about Liverpool, especially on the cooler Eastern side of the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvesting:\u003c\/strong\u003e The nuts are perfectly ripe when you can squeeze the outer hulls with your fingers and easily leave a dent. They'll start to fall of their own accord, but you can shake the tree with poles to encourage them. \u003cbr\u003e Wear rubber gloves and work clothes, because they stain. Use a knife to slice around the hulls and then twist the halves in opposite directions to remove it. \u003cbr\u003e Next, put the hulled nuts into a bucket of water and scrub them clean, or use a pressure hose. Discard any that float. \u003cbr\u003e Dry them off (you can speed this up in a cool oven at 40°C) and store them in mesh bags for at least four weeks. Shake the bags every day at the start to ensure that they dry really well. They're now ready to eat and will keep for about a year in a cool, dry place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack Walnuts are infamous for preventing many other plants from growing underneath them. Here is a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/trees\/black-walnut-kill-other-plants\"\u003elist of companion plants for Black Walnut\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack Walnuts are American natives that were brought to Britain in the mid-1600's by John Tradescant. They have now naturalised across Southern Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 60\/80cm","offer_id":54999125459270,"sku":"JUGLNIG-60\/80","price":4.89,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/black-walnut-mature-tree.jpg?v=1756800921"},{"product_id":"black-walnut-trees-juglans-nigra","title":"Black Walnut Trees","description":"","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999125524806,"sku":"JUGLNIGST-6\/8","price":104.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999125557574,"sku":"JUGLNIGST-8\/10","price":159.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/black-walnut-mature-tree.jpg?v=1756800921"},{"product_id":"common-walnut-trees-juglans-regia","title":"Common Walnut Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Common Walnut – stately parkland tree with golden autumn colour\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Juglans regia\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e To 30m (100ft); most garden specimens settle at 15-20m\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate, around 30-40cm per year once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnuts, from around year 10 on a standard tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich yellow-gold\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, fertile, well-drained. Dislikes shallow chalk and waterlogged ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAspect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, sheltered from cold winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot ornamental standards, measured by girth at 1m above ground. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e November to March (bareroot)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e November to March\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJuglans regia as an ornamental standard is a considered purchase: a tree for a place, a generation, and a landscape. The trunk is grey and deeply furrowed even on relatively young trees. The leaves are large and pinnate, emerging bronze in April, the last of the common trees to break dormancy, and carrying a warm, distinctive fragrance when you brush past them on a dry day. Autumn colour is a clear, unhurried yellow-gold. In time, a walnut standard becomes one of those trees people drive past slowly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Walnut Trees – What You Are Buying\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStandards are sold by girth: the circumference of the trunk at 1m above the ground, not by height. A 6\/8cm girth tree has a trunk 6-8cm around; an 8\/10cm tree has a trunk 8-10cm around. This tells you something real about the maturity of the tree: the 8\/10cm arrives with a more substantial stem and a more established crown, and it looks the part immediately. Most walnut standards stand 2-3m tall on delivery, though we can't specify height precisely; it varies tree to tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWalnuts come slowly on a standard. These are ornamental trees first; the nuts are a pleasant consequence of maturity, typically arriving a decade or so after planting. If you want a cropping nut tree in the near term, our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/buccaneer-walnut-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuccaneer Walnut\u003c\/a\u003e in a pot is a different proposition: a named selection that fruits in 3-5 years and stays at 6-8m. The standard common walnut is for the longer game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- EXPERT: Any memory of a particular walnut standard — in an estate, a farmyard, a garden you visited? The 'last tree to leaf' quality is worth personalising. --\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eJuglans regia – A Brief History Worth Knowing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe name says more than it appears to. Juglans is a contraction of Jovis glans ('Jupiter's nut'), because the Romans considered the walnut kingly enough for the king of gods. Regia means royal. The word walnut itself comes from the Old English wealhhnutu: foreign nut, to distinguish it from the native hazel. It is native to a broad band from southeastern Europe through to the Himalayas, and the Romans almost certainly brought it to Britain, though it was first recorded growing wild here as late as 1836, nearly two thousand years after they arrived. It has had time to settle in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWalnuts produce juglone, a natural compound that inhibits some plants in their root zone, so companions need to be chosen with some care. What they cannot tolerate: most of the vegetable garden, rhododendrons, and apple trees. What they are happy with, and what actually looks good with them: daffodils are the natural choice. They naturalise under a walnut canopy without complaint, flowering freely in March and April before the walnut's own leaves have opened, filling the space underneath with yellow before the tree has cast a leaf. Our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/daffodil-narcissus-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edaffodil and narcissus range\u003c\/a\u003e includes the varieties that work best in grass and for naturalising. Later in the year, ornamental grasses hold their own alongside walnut without difficulty; our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ornamental-grass-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental grass collection\u003c\/a\u003e includes forms that give height and movement through summer and autumn. For a parkland planting, sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) makes a fine companion tree: same scale, same generous autumn presence, but earlier to fruit and with candles of cream flower in July that the walnut doesn't offer. Our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/chestnut-trees-conker-sweet\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003echestnut trees\u003c\/a\u003e are in the same size range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe source our walnut standards from specialist bareroot tree nurseries, graded to ensure the root system arrives in good condition and ready to establish. All plants guaranteed. Which? Gardening named us Best Plant Supplier, driven by customer recommendations. See our full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental standards range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the girth measurement mean on a walnut standard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGirth is the circumference of the trunk measured at 1m above the ground: the tree's waist measurement, not its height. A 6\/8cm girth tree has a trunk 6-8cm around at that point; an 8\/10cm tree has a trunk 8-10cm around. Larger girth means a more established, more substantial tree on the day it arrives. Ultimate height is the same for both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is the best time to plant a bareroot walnut standard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNovember to March, during full dormancy. Autumn planting gives roots time to settle before the first growing season; late winter planting works well too. Avoid planting in frozen or waterlogged ground. Stake firmly and keep a weed-free metre around the base through the first summer; walnut establishment can be slow and it needs all the help it can get in year one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs a common walnut standard suitable for a smaller garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot really. Common walnut reaches 15-20m in a garden setting, spreads widely, and its root zone produces juglone which affects nearby plantings. It needs space and a degree of isolation from the rest of the garden. For a smaller site, our pot-grown Buccaneer Walnut reaches 6-8m and is a more manageable proposition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between a walnut standard and walnut saplings?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur \u003ca href=\"\/products\/english-walnut-sapling-plants-juglans-regia\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewalnut saplings\u003c\/a\u003e are small bareroot whips: cheap, lightweight, and ideal for planting in quantity for hedgerows, woodland edges, or large-scale schemes. Standards are established ornamental trees with a clear trunk and a formed crown, priced accordingly, and suitable where immediate presence matters: a specimen position in a garden, a feature in a lawn, or an avenue planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo common walnuts need a second tree for pollination?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCommon walnut carries male and female flowers on the same tree and will produce some nuts alone. Yield improves with another walnut within range for cross-pollination, but a single specimen will fruit in time. The main constraint isn't pollination: it's patience. On a standard tree, expect to wait around 10 years for a meaningful crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999146660166,"sku":"JUGLREGST-6\/8","price":99.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999146692934,"sku":"JUGLREGST-8\/10","price":134.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 7 Litre","offer_id":56834172518726,"sku":"JUGREGBUCWAL-7L","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/common-walnut-mature-tree.jpg?v=1756734445"},{"product_id":"english-walnut-sapling-plants-juglans-regia","title":"Common English Walnut Sapling Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Common Walnut – bareroot saplings for hedgerow and woodland planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Juglans regia\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e To 30m in time\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, fertile, well-drained\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAspect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot saplings, 20\/40cm or 60\/80cm height above ground. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e November to March (bareroot)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e November to March\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese are bareroot walnut saplings: small, light, and inexpensive, suited to hedgerow planting, woodland edges, and agroforestry schemes where you want to put in walnut numbers rather than a single specimen. The 20\/40cm size is a whip: a single stem, easy to plant by the hundred if needed, and well proven to establish reliably if the ground is prepared and weeds are kept clear. The 60\/80cm size gives you a more substantial sapling with a little more presence from the start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese will not look like much for the first few years. Walnut establishes slowly, and some shoot tip die-back in year one is normal and nothing to worry about. Given time, good drainage, and sun, they become a fine tree, with golden autumn colour, aromatic foliage, and eventually walnuts, though on a seedling sapling you are looking at a decade or more before a meaningful crop. If a cropping nut tree is the goal, our pot-grown \u003ca href=\"\/products\/buccaneer-walnut-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuccaneer Walnut\u003c\/a\u003e is the better starting point. If you want to plant walnut into a field boundary, a mixed hedgerow, or a farm woodland scheme, this is where to start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWalnut Saplings – Planting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a mixed hedgerow or farm woodland, walnut combines well with other native and near-native trees. Hazel works particularly well: it establishes quickly, provides structure and nuts far sooner than the walnut, and coppices freely if you want to manage it. Field maple, hornbeam, and blackthorn all sit comfortably in the same planting. For a simple two-species hedgerow with strong autumn interest, walnut and hazel is a reliable combination. Browse our full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/edible-nut-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eedible nut tree range\u003c\/a\u003e for companion species, or our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental standards\u003c\/a\u003e if you want a single established specimen tree rather than saplings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBareroot saplings sourced from specialist nurseries, handled correctly and delivered during dormancy. All plants guaranteed. Which? Gardening Best Plant Supplier, driven by customer recommendations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between the 20\/40cm and 60\/80cm walnut saplings?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize on arrival. The 20\/40cm is a whip: a single stem, easy to plant in quantity, and cheaper. The 60\/80cm is a more substantial sapling with a short branching structure. Both will reach the same size at maturity. For large-scale planting, the 20\/40cm is the standard choice; the 60\/80cm suits smaller schemes where you want a little more presence from day one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen do walnut saplings start producing nuts?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA long time from now. Seedling-grown walnut saplings typically take 10 years or more before they crop reliably. These are planted for the landscape, not the larder. If nut production within a few years is the objective, the Buccaneer Walnut (a named grafted cultivar) is the right tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs some die-back in the first year normal?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Walnut is one of the more challenging trees to establish and shoot tip die-back in year one is standard and expected. Don't pull the tree. Keep weeds clear within a metre, water in dry spells through the first summer, and give it time. By year two or three, a well-sited walnut sapling will be growing away strongly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan walnut be planted in a mixed hedgerow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, though it needs some consideration. Walnut produces juglone, a compound that inhibits some plants in its root zone, so it's not a good neighbour for apple trees or most vegetables. In a farm hedgerow or woodland mix with other trees and native shrubs it sits perfectly well. Hazel, field maple, and hornbeam are all fine companions and won't be affected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many walnut saplings do I need per metre for a hedgerow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWalnut is typically used as a standard tree within a mixed hedgerow rather than as the hedging plant itself. For a field boundary mix, plant one walnut per 8-10 metres, interspersed with faster-establishing hedge species like hazel, blackthorn, or field maple planted at 3-5 per metre. This gives you a mixed native hedge with walnut standards emerging above the hedge line over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 20\/40cm","offer_id":54999169794374,"sku":"JUGLREG-20\/40","price":4.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 60\/80cm","offer_id":54999169761606,"sku":"JUGLREG-60\/80","price":6.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/common-walnuts-juglans-regia.jpg?v=1756734445"},{"product_id":"buccaneer-walnut-trees","title":"Buccaneer Walnut Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Buccaneer – a reliable cropping walnut for UK gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Juglans regia 'Buccaneer'\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous nut tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Round walnuts; good-quality shells with well-filled kernels\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e September–October\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-fertile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes; crops without a pollination partner\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6–8m (20–25ft); slower than a seedling-grown common walnut\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeafing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late-leafing; reduces frost damage to young growth in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, fertile, well-drained. Dislikes heavy clay or waterlogged ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAspect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, sheltered from cold winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown trees, grown for us by specialist nurseries. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year-round from pots; autumn and early spring are ideal\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year-round, subject to availability\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVAT:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zero-rated (walnuts are food-producing trees)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBuccaneer (Juglans regia 'Buccaneer') is a named UK variety of common walnut, selected specifically for reliable cropping in our climate. It leafs out late in spring, later than most, which means those first tender leaves miss the worst of the late frosts that can otherwise nip the flush and set back the harvest. The nuts themselves are round, well-filled, and come in September and October. It's self-fertile, so one tree is enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt won't grow as large as a seedling common walnut. Six to eight metres at maturity is typical, which puts it within reach of most gardens with a sunny, open corner to spare. The canopy is handsome in its own right: pinnate leaves on a spreading head, good yellow autumn colour, and that unmistakable walnut scent when you rub the bark or the foliage. The nuts are, of course, the main event, but you're not sacrificing anything ornamentally by choosing a named variety over an unselected seedling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- EXPERT: Do you grow Buccaneer or buy it in? Any personal experience of the crop or tree performance? --\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBuccaneer Walnut – Late Leafing, Reliable Cropping\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe late-leafing habit is the thing most people don't know about Buccaneer, and it matters. Walnut is frost-susceptible at bud break; a hard late frost can wipe out the whole season's crop in a night. Buccaneer's later-than-average flush gives it a meaningful advantage in most UK gardens, especially anywhere north of the Midlands or at any elevation. We'd plant it over an unselected common walnut almost every time for exactly this reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne thing to be aware of: all walnuts, including Buccaneer, produce juglone, a natural compound that inhibits the growth of certain nearby plants, particularly potatoes, apples, and some ornamentals. Keep it away from a vegetable garden and at least 10 metres from apple trees. The \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/plants\/death-by-black-walnut\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efull list of susceptible plants\u003c\/a\u003e is worth reading before you choose a site. Oaks, most grasses, and most fruit trees other than apple are fine with walnut as a neighbour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBuccaneer makes a fine centrepiece for a small productive garden or orchard corner. It companions well with other nut and fruit trees from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/edible-nut-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eedible nut tree range\u003c\/a\u003e; a hazel or two planted nearby will draw in pollinators and crop happily in the walnut's partial shade once the canopy fills in. If you're planning a small mixed planting, our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e include a wide range of apple and pear varieties that will sit comfortably alongside a walnut at the recommended distance. And if you're interested in the plain common walnut as a larger specimen tree or hedgerow plant, our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/common-walnut-trees-juglans-regia\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCommon Walnut Trees\u003c\/a\u003e come as bareroot ornamental standards, a quite different proposition, but same species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe source Buccaneer from specialist fruit tree nurseries with the same attention we apply to the rest of the range: pot-grown, well-established root systems, properly hardened off before dispatch. Pot-grown trees establish reliably year-round, though autumn or early spring planting makes the first year easier on both tree and gardener. All plants are guaranteed. Which? Gardening named us Best Plant Supplier, based on customer recommendations. Browse our full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/walnuts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewalnut range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does a Buccaneer walnut tree take to produce nuts?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect the first meaningful crop in four to six years from a pot-grown tree. Named varieties like Buccaneer tend to come into production earlier than seedling-grown walnuts, which can take a decade or more. The first crops are usually modest, just a handful of nuts, building to a reliable harvest as the tree matures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes a Buccaneer walnut tree need a pollinator?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Buccaneer is self-fertile and will crop as a single tree without a pollination partner. A second walnut nearby can increase yield slightly, but it isn't necessary. Most UK gardens manage perfectly well with one tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does a Buccaneer walnut tree grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTypically 6–8m (20–25ft) at maturity, noticeably smaller than a seedling common walnut, which can reach 30m if left unchecked. That makes Buccaneer a more practical choice for most gardens. It grows slowly, so the space it occupies in year five looks nothing like its eventual spread.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the best position for a walnut tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFull sun and shelter from cold winds, in deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Walnuts hate sitting in wet ground and will decline in waterlogged clay. Avoid frost pockets, which is partly why the late-leafing habit of Buccaneer is such a practical advantage. Give it as open and sunny a position as you have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs a Buccaneer walnut tree different from a common walnut?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's the same species (Juglans regia), but a selected, named cultivar rather than a seedling. The difference in practice is meaningful: Buccaneer leafs out later (better frost resistance), tends to crop more reliably and at a younger age, and stays smaller at maturity. A common walnut seedling is cheaper and ultimately taller; Buccaneer is the better choice if consistent nut production is the point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow a Buccaneer walnut tree in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot long-term. Walnuts develop a substantial taproot and need deep, open soil to perform. A large container can work for the first year or two while you prepare a permanent site, but this isn't a tree for a pot on a patio. Plant it where you intend it to stay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is the best time to harvest Buccaneer walnuts?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeptember and October, once the green husks begin to split and fall naturally. Pick them up from the ground, remove the outer husk before it stains, and dry the nuts in a well-ventilated spot for a few weeks before storing. Freshly picked walnuts taste noticeably different from dried; worth eating a few straight from the tree before putting the rest away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 10 Litre","offer_id":56835744956742,"sku":"JUGLREGBUC-10L","price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 7 Litre","offer_id":56835727753542,"sku":"JUGLREGBUC-7L","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/young-walnut-tree.webp?v=1782197566"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/collections\/common-walnuts-juglans-regia-2.jpg?v=1782196502","url":"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/walnut-trees.oembed","provider":"Ashridge Nurseries","version":"1.0","type":"link"}