Description
(Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis)
A relative of Walnut, native to Japan.
Hardier and more vigorous than walnuts. Less prone to disease and more tolerant of wet climates.
Heartnuts have a reputation of being hard to shell but the varieties offered here have improved shelling capacity.
Flavor is somewhere between a walnut and a pecan. The nut is shaped like a heart. Mature trees produce over 100kg of nuts.
The stock is not grown from nut but is grafted from known varieties.
Heartnuts are generally not self-fertile so more than one cultivar should be planted.
They flower in early to mid-May and are sensitive to frosts.
They grow into big trees and need 10-12m spacing.
Trees are heat grafted under contract.
Nut production can begin as early as year 4 though it is more typically year 7 or 8.
A limited numbers of large specimen heartnuts are available. Call for more details.
