Heartnut (AKA Japanese Walnut)
(Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis)
As if all these attributes were not enough, the heartnut is incredible in its ability to be stored at room temperature for long periods of time - even years! Like a fine wine, it is said that the flavor of heartnuts actually improves over time, peaking at between five to eight years! By year 10 the nuts may become a little stale, but not enough to keep them from being enjoyable.
Unfortunately, heartnuts are one of the most difficult trees to graft, requiring great skill to achieve and a low success rate which is why they are so hard to find for sale. Heartnut can be grafted onto any other species of walnut, but the best results are obtained from grafts on to black walnut or heartnut roots. When grafted to black walnut, heartnut trees can be twice as productive as seedling heartnuts or ones grafted onto other heartnut rootstock.
If you are looking for nice shade trees, heartnut trees will not disappoint. They have a beautiful tropical look to them with compound leaves that can get 2-3 feet long. Additionally, they are very fast growing - with adequate moisture and protection from weed competition they can put on six to eight feet of height in a single year. Heartnuts tend to grow wider than tall. Their height maxes out at about 40 feet, but they can be up to 100 feet wide (though smaller is more common). When grown in heavier soils the growth habit will tend to be more compact.
Tolerances:
Special Uses:
|
Habits:
Possible Drawbacks:
|
Heartnut, Seedling
It cannot be guaranteed what quality of the nuts will be produced from these seedling trees. However, they are grown from the best heartnut selections in North America which improves the chances of getting a good cracking heartnut. Cold Hardy to USDA zone 6.
Partially self-fertile - can produce much more if planted near another heartnut tree.
Campbell CW1, Grafted Heartnut (L) (Heartnut rootstock)
Only a few left!
A heavy producer, Campbell CW1 yields medium sized nuts which will crack out in halves and wholes that drop freely out of the shell. The nuts typically ripen and begin dropping around the last week of September. Best suited to USDA zone 6.
Partially self-fertile - can produce much more if planted near a seedling, or different grafted variety of Heartnut. Campbell CW1 is a late pollinator and is best paired with an early pollinator.
Campbell CW3, Grafted Heartnut (E) (Heartnut Rootstock)
Only a few left!
A heavy producer of medium sized nuts, Campbell CW3 has a more compact growth habit but still keeps up in production with larger more spreading trees. The nuts will crack out a mixture of halves and wholes that drop out of the shell freely. Nuts ripen and begin dropping a week after 'Imshu'. Cold hardy to USDA zone 6.
Partially self-fertile - can produce much more if planted near a seedling, or different grafted variety of Heartnut. Campbell CW1 is an early pollinator and is best paired with a late pollinator.
Grimo 146, Grafted Heartnut (E) (Black Walnut Rootstock)
Only a few left!
A cross between Simcoe and Imshu, Grimo 146 has much potential with a smooth inner cavity that allows the kernel to be released freely in one piece. Cold hardy to USDA zone 6.
Partially self-fertile - can produce much more if planted near a seedling, or different grafted variety of Heartnut. Grimo 146 is a early pollinator and is best paired with a late pollinator.
Grimo 89, Grafted Heartnut (E) (Black Walnut Rootstock)
Only a few left!
Still on trial, Grimo 89 is a cross between Campbell CW3 and Imshu. It produces medium to large sized nuts that crack perfectly when cracked on the edges. It allows the nut meat to drop out whole and has 29% kernel. Cold hardy to USDA zone 6.
Partially self-fertile - can produce much more if planted near a seedling, or different grafted variety of Heartnut. Grimo 146 is an early pollinator and is best paired with a late pollinator.
Imshu, Grafted Heartnut (L) (Black Walnut Rootstock)
Only a few left!
The name 'Imshu' is a blend of 'improved and 'Schubert'. It originates from Korea and it is said it was brought to North America by a soldier who served in the Korean war. 'Imshu' is a heavy producer of medium sized nuts that, if cracked carefully, will crack out whole kernels that drop out of the shell freely. Nuts ripen and begin dropping in the last week of September. Cold Hardy to USDA zone 6.
Partially self-fertile - can produce much more if planted near a seedling, or different grafted variety of Heartnut. Imshu is a late pollinator and is best paired with an early pollinator.