What Can Be Planted Near Black Walnut Trees?

Shrubs

• For areas within the juglone zone, choose resistant shrubs that also tolerate the shady conditions caused by the walnut tree's canopy. The Argentea pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia "Argentea") tolerates juglone and prefers partial shade. This dogwood cultivar, a 15-foot, deciduous shrub to small tree, has deep green foliage and produces fragrant, white flowers in late spring.

  The Creel's Quintet flame sumac (Rhus copallina "Creel's Quintet") grows to 10 feet tall and tolerates partial shade and juglone. Plant this deciduous shrub in acidic, well-drained soil. The flame sumac has bright red fall foliage and produces showy panicles of red berries.

Ground Covers and Vines

• Juglone-resistant ground covers and vines fill in empty areas around your walnut tree. Shade-loving species include the bower actinidia (Actinidia arguta), a twining, deciduous vine that grows from 20 to 30 feet. This climber requires support and thrives in a variety of conditions. Bower actinidias bloom with fragrant, white, purple and green flowers in early to midsummer.

  The common periwinkle (Vinca minor), an evergreen ground cover, grows from 3 to 6 inches tall but spreads much wider. The periwinkle has glossy, tough foliage and produces showy, light blue flowers from early spring through summer. The periwinkle grows best in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.

Annuals

• Annuals bloom for most of the growing season, but usually die by or with the arrival of the first hard frost. Juglone-tolerant varieties include the sunflower (Helianthus spp.). A variety of cultivars range from 1 to 9 feet tall. Most prefer sunny sites and well-drained soils. Flower colors include dark gold, bright yellow, orange and red. Most have dark-brown centers.

  The Nonstop pot marigold (Calendula officinalis "Nonstop") blooms from summer to fall with yellow to red blossoms. This annual grows in clumps to 2 feet tall and prefers partial shade to sun. Irrigate the pot marigold regularly.

Perennials

• Perennials tend to bloom for shorter periods than annuals, but grow back year after year. Juglone-tolerant varieties include the spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), a perennial that grows to 2 feet tall and prefers moist to wet soil. The spiderwort thrives in partial shade to full sun and produces purple, pink and white flowers in late spring and summer.

  The oxalis (Oxalis crassipes ) also thrives in partial shade to full sun and can grow near a walnut tree. This perennial blooms with pink to white flowers in spring and then flowers again in fall. Plant oxalis in moist to dry soils.