The Butternut Tree (Juglans cinerea)

While butternut trees are some of the hardiest nut trees, they are becoming rarer in the wild and aren’t frequently found in nurseries. This is because the tree is susceptible to butternut canker, a deadly fungal disease. In some states, butternut canker killed up to 80% of butternut trees. There is no cure for this disease and affected trees typically die after a few years. Hybrid butternut trees usually have better resistance against butternut canker. 

The native range of butternut trees ranges from all of northeastern United States and into southeastern Canada. The tree was once highly valued for its rich, sweet, and buttery flavored nuts and its light, golden wood. Butternut trees can be planted in spring or fall and usually show yellowish-green flowers in late spring. The flowers are replaced by fruits which then ripen into nuts in the fall. The trees can grow to be 40 to 60 feet tall and wide (12 to 18 meters) but grow quite slowly with less than 12 inches added to their height per year. It’s better to plant butternut trees away from other plants. They emit juglones, chemicals toxic to other plants, into the soil that can either kill them or stunt their growth. 

The fruit husks of the tree can be used to make yellow or orange dye. Some substances from the inner bark of the roots are used in medicines. The original butternut tree George Washington Bush brought over during his trip along the Oregon Trail is thought to be the oldest butternut tree in the United States at more than 170 years old. 

Sources: How to Grow and Care for Butternut Tree (thespruce.com), Butternut | Description, Tree, Nuts, & Facts | Britannica