06/17/2026
It brings me joy to find a nut bearing Butternut tree, Juglans cinerea. The nuts are fantastic and remind me of the Persian walnuts we buy at the store except they taste 100x better. They don’t have that strong taste like the black walnut (I do love the taste of black walnuts).
Unfortunately, the Butternut is an endangered tree species. The tree population has significantly declined since the 1960s. Mostly from a fungus known as the Butternut canker (impress your friends and learn the Latin name, Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum 😵💫). The fungus was first documented in the 1960s and thought to be invasive because of how it affects its host plant. However, the fungus has only been found in Canada and US.
Another reason for population decline is the lack of suitable habitat for seedling growth. Butternuts are intolerant of shade and require a soil disturbance for seedling growth. Young seedlings that are able to grow then get chomped down by white tailed deer (ask me how I know).
Work is being done to save the Butternut, groups are out there collecting seed from trees that show some resistance to the canker. These are then propagated to hopefully grow more resistant trees. Breeders are also crossing the Butternut with the Japanese walnut to help breed the genetics for resistance. Similar to the work being done with the American chestnut.
The Butternut tree is such a vital tree, it supports a multitude of species and has been an important crop in North America for thousands of years. Even the children’s show, made a full episode on the Butternut, the first non animal show they have done.
