Butternut

Description

Requirements and Tolerances

Cold Tolerance: USDA Zone 3-7
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
Water Requirements: Moderate, consistent moisture
Soil Type: Well-drained
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Plant Spacing: 30-40′ apart
Drought Tolerance: Moderate
Chilling Hours: None
Heat Tolerance: Moderate

Physical Characteristics

Rootstock: From Seed
Plant Size: 40-60′ tall, 30-50′ wide
Growth Habit: Upright, spreading
Foliage Color: Green
Bloom Time: April-May
Flower Color: Yellow-green
Fall Color: Yellow-orange
Nut Size: 1.5-2.5″
Nut Flavor: Sweet, buttery
Nut/Husk Color and Appearance Light brown, oval, ridged

Growth and Reproduction

Growth Rate: Moderate
Years to Bear: 7-10
Lifespan: 40-75 years
Pollination Requirements: Monoecious, requires cross-pollination
Pollination Mechanisms: Wind
Harvest Time: September-October
Yield & Storage: Moderate, store in a cool, dry place

Disease Resistance

Toxicity: Non-toxic
Invasive Potential: Low
Native Range: Eastern United States
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Butternut Canker (Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum): Very Susceptible
Anthracnose (Gnomonia leptostyla): Moderately Susceptible
Armillaria Root Rot (Armillaria mellea): Moderately Susceptible
Powdery Mildew (Microsphaera alni): Moderately Resistant
Butternut Curculio (Conotrachelus juglandis): Susceptible
Walnut Caterpillar (Datana integerrima): Moderately Susceptible