Reviewed

Compare the nuts of walnut cultivars side by side

 
 

Growth characteristics of selected black walnut cultivars

Cultivar name
(Fingerprint alias)
Budbreak Average first pistillate bloom date Mean pistillate bloom date First pollen shed date Flower type Season length Harvest date
Beck April 28 May 15 May 21 May 16 Protogynous 128 days Sept. 25
Bowser April 29 May 9 May 14 May 19 Protogynous 128 days Sept. 17
Brown Nugget April 16 April 27 May 1 May 10 Protogynous 131 days Sept. 8
Cranz April 29 May 19 May 21 May 11 Protandrous 130 days Sept. 27
Crosby 2 May 2 May 10 May 19 May 20 Protogynous 142 days Oct. 3
Davidson* April 12 April 23 April 28 May 9 Protogynous 132 days Sept. 4
Drake April 28 May 6 May 13 May 15 Protogynous 151 days Oct. 9
Elmer Myers May 1 May 10 May 17 May 23 Protogynous 128 days Sept. 18
Emma K April 20 April 23 April 30 May 6 Protogynous 148 days Sept. 23
Football April 15 April 27 May 1 May 6 Protogynous 156 days Sept. 30
Grundy April 20 May 10 May 12 April 28 Protogynous 122 days Sept. 13
Hare April 29 May 7 May 16 May 20 Protogynous 143 days Sept. 30
Harney April 27 May 8 May 15 May 16 Protogynous 133 days Sept. 26
Hay May 5 May 14 May 22 May 24 Protogynous 135 days Oct. 3
Higbee Mill May 4 May 17 May 27 May 25 Protogynous 131 days Oct. 2
Jackson April 16 April 27 May 2 May 9 Protogynous 155 days Sept. 28
Knuvean April 18 May 11 May 17 April 29 Protandrous 136 days Oct. 1
Kwik Krop April 26 May 5 May 9 May 18 Protogynous 148 days Oct. 3
Mintle April 17 May 14 May 19 May 1 Protandrous 129 days Sept. 23
Mystry April 16 April 29 May 4 May 11 Protogynous 141 days Sept. 19
Neel #1 May 3 May 12 May 21 May 21 Protogynous 141 days Oct. 5
Ness April 16 April 27 April 30 May 10 Protogynous 168 days Oct. 12
Ogden April 23 May 6 May 10 May 13 Protogynous 168 days Oct. 18
Ohio April 24 May 7 May 8 May 15 Protogynous 140 days Sept. 18
Patterson
(Emma K)
April 16 April 25 April 30 May 6 Protogynous 153 days Sept. 28
Pound #2 April 24 May 8 May 17 May 20 Protogynous 143 days Oct. 1
Pritchett April 18 April 28 May 6 May 12 Protogynous 134 days Sept. 14
Rhower
(Thomas)
April 28 May 7 May 13 May 20 Protogynous 145 days Oct. 2
Sarcoxie
(Kwik Krop)
April 25 May 4 May 9 May 15 Protogynous 141 days Sept. 25
Sauber #1 April 26 May 6 May 14 May 18 Protogynous 134 days Sept. 20
Sauber #2
(Sparrow)
  May 8 May 14 May 17 Protogynous 118 days Sept. 5
Schessler April 13 April 22 April 29 May 6 Protogynous 129 days Sept. 4
Scrimger
(Sparrow)
April 27 May 10 May 14 May 15 Protogynous 117 days Sept. 5
Shreve May 2 May 8 May 17 May 17 Protogynous 147 days Oct. 4
South Fork April 14 May 9 May 6 April 28 Protandrous 158 days Oct. 8
Sparks 127 April 25 May 7 May 12 May 16 Protogynous 118 days Sept. 4
Sparks 129 April 23 April 27 May 6 May 15 Protogynous 125 days Sept. 28
Sparks 147 May 3 May 11 May 15 May 18 Protogynous 131 days Sept. 21
Sparrow April 26 May 11 May 13 May 16 Protogynous 119 days Sept. 6
Surprise April 25 May 6 May 10 May 15 Protogynous 143 days Sept. 30
Thomas May 2 May 6 May 15 May 21 Protogynous 145 days Oct. 2
Thomas Myers May 5 May 11 May 21 May 21 Protogynous 131 days Sept. 26
Tomboy April 18 April 27 May 1 May 9 Protogynous 135 days Sept. 10
Wiard April 28 May 14 May 24 May 9 Protandrous 125 days Sept. 21
*Davidson cultivar is not pictured.

Characteristics definitions

  • Fingerprint alias
    Some cultivars with different names are genetically identical as determined by DNA fingerprinting. Where this occurs among the cultivars listed in the table, "cultivar name" is the name thought to have been assigned first; "fingerprint alias," later.
  • Budbreak
    The average date of budbreak is the time when the tips of leaves are visible from swollen buds. Female or pistillate flowers develop at the tips of the new growth, while male or staminate flowers are produced on catkins on one-year-old growth.
  • Pistillate bloom dates
    Pistillate bloom occurs over a period of several days. Thus, date of first pistillate bloom is important in selecting cultivars that will avoid injury due to late-season frosts. The mean (average) pistillate bloom date is when female flowers are most likely to be receptive to pollen.
  • First pollen shed
    Mean dates of pollen shed are important because these dates must coincide with pistillate bloom and receptivity for effective cross-pollination and subsequent fertilization to occur.
  • Flower type
    Black walnut cultivars exhibit two flowering habits. Protogynous cultivars are those that produce pistillate flowers before the staminate flowers. Protandrous cultivars produce staminate flowers on catkins before the pistillate flowers are visible.
  • Season length
    Season length is the number of days from the mean pistillate bloom date to the date of harvest.
  • Harvest date
    Average date of harvest is the date by which nuts are suitable for harvest.