Heartnut

Heartnut
Juglans ailantifolia

Also known as Japanese walnuts, heartnut is quicker to bear than other nut trees. Many produce easy to shell, heart-shaped nuts on a variety of soil types.

DRAINAGE: Well-drained soils
LIGHT: Full sun
ZONES: 5–8
SPACING: 20 x 20 ft or 30 x 30 ft, thinning periodically as trees grow
YEARS TO PARTIAL/FULL BEARING: 5–10
HARVEST SEASON: September–October

Our Research

Hudson Demonstration Farm in Central Illinois integrates heartnut in a 15-acre alley cropping planting with elderberry and black currant. There are several varieties of heartnut (Japanese walnut) trees planted as a research plot, which test for cold-hardiness in USDA Zone 6a.

RESOURCE

Heartnut

Technical Service Program Icon

One-On-One Support for Farm Planning

Technical Service Program

Get help planning your perennial farm system. Our Technical Service Program is here to guide you through the process of planning, funding, and planting trees on your farm.

Hazelnut saplings in protective tubes grow in field as part of agroforestry research at Savanna Institute's Valley Farm, Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Looking For Plants?

Canopy’s Nursery offers plant material in your region. Find chestnut, walnut, pecan, hazelnut, heartnut, persimmon, pawpaw, black currant, and elderberry for order in their online store. Not only does Canopy increase the availability of high-quality plant material in the region, it also donates part of its proceeds to Savanna Institute’s nonprofit research and education mission.

Español | Hmoob