Identifying Butternut tree (Juglans cinerea) vs Black Walnut trees (Juglans nigra)

The Butternut tree, also called White Walnut or Oilnut (Juglans cinerea) and how to distinguish it from the more common Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). I also show the Juglans hybrid, Juglans X bixbyi which is Butternut crossed with Japanese Walnut (Juglans ailanthifolia) also called Buartnut.
Butternut is under threat from Butternut Canker (Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum) which is rapidly removing the tree from the landscape. Pure butternuts have never been demonstrated to have resistance, but some J. X bixbyi and complex hybrids have. It would be helpful to the species for many people to grow Butternuts and hybrids so that Butternut germplasm (genetic diversity) may be preserved.
More detailed information on identifying Butternut hybrids can be found here:
www.extension....
That said, DNA analysis is the only definitive way to show an individual tree is pure Butternut and not a complex hybrid with Juglans ailanthifolia backcrossed with true Butternut.
Source I used for my Buartnut and Butternut seedlings - Grimo Nut Nursery in Canada.
www.grimonut.com/
Stark Brothers also sells Butternuts sometimes:
www.starkbros....
To report a tree you can use:
treesnap.org/ - specifically for preserving trees threatened by invasive insects and diseases.
www.inaturalis... - can be used to record the presence of any species.

[@unironicallyslappingknees]

absolutely love this format of video!! it's super helpful when you go over each characteristic when comparing the species, especially while they're leafless

[@Biophile23]

Glad you like it. I hope to make more soon.

[@dcharris555]

First of all, what a great video explaining the differences between these two species. I live in central NY and there are a few butternuts I know of around where I live but I only know what they are because someone told me about those individuals haha Secondly, I have no idea how to reach out to KZbin folks but I'm starting a research program that will involve growing many native milkweed species and I saw in one of your comments on one of Joey Santore's videos that you have experience with this! I was hoping you might have some advice on germinating/growing native milkweeds

[@Biophile23]

Firstly, thanks for the compliment. :) I haven't grown many species of Native milkweed but I have grown A. syriaca, A. tuberosa, A. quadrifolia and A. purpurascens. I have done a bit of work on some species doing tissue culture. They are not super tricky to grow other than you must stratify the seeds before they will germinate. They are also often sensitive to root rot, especially A. quadrifolia, which is super rare in cultivation. I happen to have seeds of that species available.

[@dcharris555]

@@Biophile23 Hello again Biophile. Apologies if I gave the wrong impression with my previous post. (Or maybe I accidentally wrote my email incorrectly.) I'm very interested in learning how you grew your Asclepias and would be happy to explain more about my research project if you care to know about it.

[@Biophile23]

​@@dcharris555 I'm happy to discuss growing milkweed with you. Not seeing your email on your channel or elsewhere though. You could DM me on twitter or send me an email instead.

[@dcharris555]

@@Biophile23 Email is best for me, I'm not on Twitter, for better or worse. Where should I send it?

[@Biophile23]

@@dcharris555 send to [e-mail]

[@scottb911]

I just clean out my burn pile..Because we are no longer allowed to burn..I have black walnuts growing out of the old burn pile..I found about a hand full of butternuts..I had to look them up to see what they were..

[@mavisbrittelli9394]

I have many young Butternuts. Can I do anything to help them? I live in mid NH.

[@Biophile23]

How young are they? I have read that they survive the blight longer if they are growing on a more upland (drier) site.

[@mavisbrittelli9394]

@@Biophile23 They are a few years old, but new ones every year. We live a little above a flood plain in a small river valley and most the young trees have sprouted above the water level. We have a lot of vines -grape, virgin's bower and BITTER Sweet (awful). These young trees seem to be magnets for the vines, but we keep clearing the vines off. We have 1/2 mile of river and a small pond. The Butternuts are ringing the pond, too, but those are sick. The pond does get flooded out a lot. I do not know who is moving the nuts to higher ground, but it is happening.

[@Biophile23]

@@mavisbrittelli9394 probably squirrels. If you have butternut canker it looks like a dark spot in the bark, it will sometimes weep sap.

[@nakedoaktreefarm]

@@mavisbrittelli9394 would you be interested in sharing/selling any nuts? I’m planting a plot of butternuts from different areas in PA and looking for genetic diversity to select for the most canker resistant. Also for conservation so if it is pure that would be awesome too

[@hemyvenus4341]

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