Trials And Triumphs Of Gardening Under A Walnut Tree
In a past life I had a yard on an old street with many walnut trees also known as Juglans Regia. It did not take long before I noticed that a lot of the annual I was planting were dying;petunias, peonies, roses and impatiens would just not grow or bloom. I was beginning to think perhaps I was not as good a gardener as I thought myself to be.
What a relief it was to discover that walnut tree’s are a garden challenge because certain plants can not survive when planted below one. This is due to a poisonous substance that leaches from the walnut trees called juglone-I sure would not be eating any veggies or herbs grown near or under a walnut tree( I heard somewhere that it was an ingredient in rat poison many years ago…not sure if that is true or just some kind of urban legend). So if you have hanging plants under a giant and elegant tree that keep dying and you do not know why, try looking up to see if that tree is a walnut tree. Your garden problems might be solved if you are dealing with a walnut tree!
Do not start crying! Do not abandon hope if you have a lovely walnut in your garden. A walnut tree is actually something all your neighbors will be envious of because of the beauty and shade it provides. Where could be a nicer place to spend a hot afternoon than underneath a walnut. They are also an abundant source of walnuts-duh.
Here is a pretty thorough list of plants that I have had success growing under my walnut trees:
Annual plants that can grow under a walnut tree:
Pansie
Begonia
Marigold
Morning Glory
Flower Bulbs:
Winter Aconite
Narcissus
Tulip
Blue Scilla
Snow Drop
Perennial plants that can grow beneath a walnut tree:
Aster
Common Milkweed (A Main stay in my garden!)
Hosta
Many ferns, for example Japanese Painted Fern
Coral Bell
Day Lilly
Pachysandra
Black Eyed Susan
Spider Wort
Dutchman’ Breeches
Violet
Bugle Weed
Jack in the Pulpit
Wild Geranium
Joe-Pye Weed
Creeping Phlox
Sedum
Trillium
Bee Balm
Shrubs that can grow beneath a walnut tree:
Boxwood
Oakleaf Hydrangea
This is perhaps not the longest list and I am positive that many more plants would or could do well; these are just the ones I have tried and had success with in the garden’s I take care of and my own garden. Turn that black thumb green with this good advice about what will grow under a walnut. And you know, if all else fails under your walnut tree then put some cool garden decor, a gazing globe or perhaps a recycled glass bird feeder there to provide the area with some extra visual interest!
