Heartnut Walnut aka Japanese Walnut

Juglans ailantifolia

An easy-to-grow, spreading, attractive tree with large sweet nuts that halve easily. Abundant foliage, bears early and is hardy. A sweeter, easier-cracking nut than black walnut. A good shade tree with a spreading habit that's prettier in the landscape than black walnut. Susceptible to Walnut Bunch Disease in the deep south. We have grown Heartnuts for 15 years and have not noticed the disease. For the areas of Zone 8 the disease could be more of a problem. Self fruitful 20' to 35' recommended spacing. Zones 5-8.

Plant Characteristics
Pest Resistance	Excellent
Disease Resistance	Excellent
Drought Tolerance	Very Good
Heat Tolerance	Very Good
Humidity Tolerance	Excellent
Sun Tolerance	Very Good
Wet Soil Tolerance	Fair
Shade Tolerance	Fair
No Spray	Excellent
Salt Tolerance	Poor
Fresh for Kids	Excellent
Deer Resistance	Very Good
Thorns	No
Plant Type	Tree
Soil Type	Adaptable
Edible Type	Nut
Self Fertile	Yes
This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, comments/opinions are always welcome

Heartnut Care Guide

(Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis) have a valentine heart shaped nut and kernel. The tree is very pretty with lush foliage even more tropical looking the Ailanthus, tree of heaven. Hulling heartnut is easy. They are an easy addition to one's diet because they are easy to grow, crack out of their hull and delicious. Heartnuts store very well. In fact they improve on their flavor reminiscent to the taste of Brazil nuts.

Heartnuts are very hardy and mature trees are growing in Montreal with some winter damage. Heartnut trees are low headed, spreading laterally from a single short trunk. They are much more ornamental than the American Black Walnut, which is erect and lanky. Heartnuts are the most disease resistant trees of the walnut family and should hold their leaves well into fall.

Heartnuts are adaptable to soil types and survive even in soils with a rich moist soil top, with high water table, hard pan or bedrock or cold subsoil underneath. Heartnuts cast @ 70% shade. They make an excellent shade tree. Plant trees 30' apart.