Are Walnut trees toxic to Dawn Redwood or Bald Cypress?

14 years ago

We have planted a large mixed grove of Dawn Redwood and Bald Cypress and we keep losing the ones near some walnut trees. Is this coincidence? Or is it because of the Juglone poison associated with the Walnut trees. I have searched the web and found nothing helpful.

Also...if you know of an on-line list that is VERY extensive that shows plants that are sensitive to Juglone, please share the link. Most lists I have found are not very extensive, and rare(ish) trees like dawn redwood are not listed. Thanks!!

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

20 days ago

Often plants are omitted from these lists simply because they have not been grown in proximity or because they have never shown any signs of being sensitive. The plants that ARE sensitive or are more frequently grown in proximity seem to get first crack on any lists. It is entirely possible you will never find this data published and you will just have to experiment and try for yourself.

FWIW, a great many more plants have no sensitivity to juglone/black walnuts than plants that do.

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Comments (7)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
14 years ago
huh, I couldn't find a list with either on it. My Dawn Redwood is probably 300 feet from my nearest 2 Black Walnuts so that's limited help.

How close are the ones you're losing?

If no one has tested this, I have some Metasequoias growing from seed. Maybe in the spring I'll transplant some into some juglone heavy soil I dig up.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
14 years ago
My experience with Black Walnut does not include Dawn Redwood or Bald Cypress. I have Tsuga, Picea & Chamaecyparis growing close to and under black walnuts. Are you sure the walnuts aren't sucking moisture from the young plants?

tj
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artdeco
14 years ago
I have a grafted Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress approx 50' downhill from a few Black Walnuts & 25' from the dripline. It's in moist clay - the water is run-off from up by the Walnut trees. It's growing so slow, less than 8" per year, & the needle/leaves are very short compared to other specimens I've seen. It looks chlorotic, but pH is neutral - I'm considering composting it. It's just not right...

I had a 2nd Shawnee Brave w/ same growth issues, 12' closer to the BW. One winter this BC suddenly died back to the graft after 2 or 3 yrs growing. It resprouted below the graft as common BC, beautiful green fast growing stems - 36" in 1 season - but alot of those stems died over the next winter, then it shot up new stems... Eventually I got rid of it - I didn't need a Bald Cypress 'shrub'.

I assumed the appearance & issues were caused by poor roots due to clay, but when I dug up the 1st tree I was surprised how deep & strong the roots grew in just a few years.

I still think the problem is the planting location or Shawnee Brave weaknesses, but maybe juglone can stunt Bald Cypress growth.
ActionClaw (Northern Ohio zone:5a/5b)
13 years ago
Well, I'm still very much interested in this exact question but don't want to repost it. I've done the same type of research and turned up the same (lack of) results. Any new input?

Toronado3800, did you perform your test? If so, please share your results.

Thanks
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
13 years ago
No test. I found out that winter in my unheated shed was very harmful to dawn redwood seedlings!

Cold dark and mice must have done them in. I even watered a couple times.

For what its worth i now have an Ogdon Metasequoia 150 feet straight down hill from some black walnuts. The yellow fella is growing fine.
BillMN-z-2-3-4
20 days ago
last modified: 20 days ago
There's an extensive 'plants tolerant' list including trees at this site:

https://extension.psu.edu/landscaping-and-gardening-around-walnuts-and-other-juglone-producing-plants

Unfortunately, the lists do not include bald cypress or dawn redwood.

Are Walnut trees toxic to Dawn Redwood or Bald Cypress?

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Comments (7)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

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artdeco

ActionClaw (Northern Ohio zone:5a/5b)

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BillMN-z-2-3-4

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