Planting trees with large green nuts on your property can provide many benefits. Not only do these trees produce tasty and nutritious nuts, but they also add beauty and shade to your landscape. When choosing the right nut tree, it’s important to consider your climate zone, space available, and preferences for flavor and use. Here are some of the top options for trees with large green nuts that may work well on your property.
Black Walnut
The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is one of the most prized trees for its nuts. Native to eastern North America, this tree can grow over 100 feet tall and live for centuries. The large, round green nuts have a bold, earthy flavor and are enclosed in a thick husk that turns black when ripe. Inside the hard shell is a large, oil-rich kernel perfect for snacking and baking.
Black walnuts prefer full sun and deep, fertile soil. They thrive in zones 4-9. Plant at least 30 feet from buildings, driveways and garden beds since the roots exude a chemical that inhibits other plant growth. Black walnuts start producing nuts 6-10 years after planting. The nuts fall in autumn when the husks split open.
English Walnut
English or Persian walnuts (Juglans regia) also produce delicious nuts enclosed in a green husk. They are more widely adapted than black walnuts, growing in zones 5-9. The trees reach about 60 feet tall and have an open, spreading form.
The nuts have a smoother shell and milder flavor than black walnuts. Varieties like Chandler and Hartley produce especially large nuts. Provide English walnuts with full sun, good drainage and fertile soil. Allow at least 30-40 feet between trees. Harvest the nuts when the husks split and turn brown in fall.
Butternut
Butternut (Juglans cinerea) is sometimes called white walnut or oilnut, It is native to the central and eastern United States This small to medium-sized tree reaches 40-60 feet tall and thrives in zones 3-7,
The oval nuts are enclosed in a green, sticky husk that turns brown and splits open in fall. The nuts have a sweet buttery flavor. Butternuts grow best in moist, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade. Allow at least 30-40 feet between trees. Butternuts produce nuts about 5 years after planting.
Heartnut
Heartnut (Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis) is a hybrid between Japanese walnuts and butternuts. As the name suggests, the nuts are heart-shaped instead of round. The trees are smaller than black and English walnuts, only reaching about 40 feet tall.
Heartnuts thrive in zones 4-8. They prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Allow 20-40 feet between trees. The sweet, mild-flavored nuts are ready for harvest when they drop from the tree in fall. Heartnut trees produce nuts 4-8 years after planting. Popular varieties include Campbell CW-3, Imshu, and Sycamore.
Pecan
The pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is one of the most widely grown nut trees thanks to its adaptability and delicious nuts. Pecans thrive in zones 6-9 and can reach over 100 feet tall. The oval or oblong nuts are encased in a thin, green husk that splits open when ripe in fall.
There are many improved pecan varieties to choose from. Look for types that are resistant to scab disease, such as Pawnee, Kanza and Lakota. Plant pecans at least 70 feet apart in full sun and fertile soil. Trees start bearing nuts 6-10 years after planting.
Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is a large deciduous tree that produces sweet, edible nuts. Native to eastern North America, shagbark hickory thrives in zones 4-8 and grows up to 80 feet tall. The nuts are enclosed in a thick green husk that splits and drops when ripe in fall. It takes 10 years or longer for trees to start producing nuts.
Plant shagbark hickory in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. Allow at least 40 feet between trees. Popular varieties include Porter, Yoder #1 and Grainger. The sweet, mild nuts are excellent for snacking and baking. Shelling them does take some work due to the hard shell.
Buartnut
Buartnut (Juglans x bixbyi) is a hybrid between butternut and heartnut. The trees are fast-growing and reach 40-60 feet tall. Buartnuts thrive in zones 4-8. The large, heart-shaped nuts are sweet and flavorful.
Provide buartnuts with full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Allow at least 30-40 feet between trees. Buartnut varieties like Bundy and Imshi produce nuts just 3-5 years after planting. The husked nuts drop in fall when mature.
Hazelnut
Hazelnuts, also called filberts, are excellent choices for small properties. Common hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is a multi-stemmed shrub that only reaches 10-15 feet tall. It thrives in zones 4-9. The sweet, oval nuts are enclosed in a soft, green husk.
Plant hazelnuts in full sun to partial shade. Allow 8-12 feet between plants. Provide fertile, well-drained soil and consistent moisture. Harvest the nut clusters when the husks turn brown and start to split. Popular varieties include Ennis, Yamhill and Jefferson.
Choosing the Right Trees
When selecting nut trees, consider your growing zone, available space, desired nut flavor and uses, and time to maturity. Seek out disease-resistant cultivars suitable for your region. Plant at least two trees of the same type to ensure good pollination and nut production. With the right choice and care, you’ll be rewarded with an abundant, annual crop of delicious homegrown nuts.
Dunstan Chestnut (Hybrid of Chineses X American Chestnut)
Trees are upright in growth habit and producer of exceptionally large nuts. Early bearing and outstanding trait of this variety. Their annual crop of big, sweet nuts is good food for people and many other animals, both game and non-game. Deer, turkey, bear, and many other animals like to eat them. NOTE: unable to ship to United States.
8 – 12″ 22.00 13 – 20″ 32.00 21 – 30″ 42.00
32-58″ sold out
Japanese Chestnut (Castanea crenata)
Tree appearance is very ornamental. Very graceful. Produces large to extra large size nuts. Bearing age is usually between 5 and 7 years. The nuts we chose were the biggest ones we could find from different places. After testing, we have some numbered varieties that have shown to have the best size nuts, the best tree shape, and the best resistance to blight. NOTE; unable to ship to United States 8 – 12″ $27. 00 ea 13 – 20″ 32. 00.
What is this tree w/ green balls of fruit or nuts?
FAQ
What tree has large green nuts?
What kind of tree has large green balls?
Are shagbark hickory nuts good to eat?
What tree has green balls that squirrels eat?
What are the different types of nut tree nuts?
Some common types of nut tree nuts include: Walnuts, which are large, round nuts with a hard shell. Pecans, which are smaller, oval nuts with a thin shell. Hickory nuts, which are large, triangular nuts with a thick shell. Identifying Nut Trees by Their Flowers The flowers of a nut tree can also be a helpful identifying feature.
What does a nut tree look like?
Almond trees have pale pink spring flowers and dark-green, alternate, 3- to 6-inch-long leaves with fine-toothed margins. Almonds produce fuzzy drupes that look like immature peaches; the hard, thick-shelled nuts are inside. Many types of nut trees exist, but the most common types include almond, butternut, chestnut, hickory, pecan and walnut.
What nut trees are good for your garden?
From the popular walnut and pecan trees to the more exotic macadamia and pistachio varieties, there’s a nut tree perfect for your garden. These nut trees have varying health benefits. For example, Ginkgo biloba nuts are known to cure respiratory diseases and are even believed to aid in memory loss.
What is a walnut tree?
Walnut trees are in the plant genus Juglans, and they are famous for their delicious nuts and beautiful wood. There are 21 species of walnut trees in the Juglandaceae family. The two most common varieties of walnut trees are the black walnut and the English walnut.
What are the different types of nut tree bark?
Some common types of nut tree bark include: Smooth bark, such as that found on pecan trees. Pecan trees have smooth, gray bark that is often covered in lenticels. Scaly bark, such as that found on walnut trees. Walnut trees have scaly, brown bark that is often furrowed. Ridged bark, such as that found on hickory trees.
What does a chestnut tree look like?
The chestnut tree has alternate, dark-green, 3- to 5-inch-long leaves that are shiny on the upper sides with toothed edges. Each prickly seed husk is up to 3½ inches long and contains up to four brown nuts. Identify butternut trees by their rounded shape, growing 40 to 60 feet tall and 35 to 50 feet wide.