Juglans ×bixbyi- Buartnut

A hybrid of a local native, Butternut (J. cinerea) and Japanese Heartnut (J. ailanthifolia var. cordifolia). Butternut is a relative of Black Walnut – most people consider butternuts to be be tastier than black walnuts. Unfortunately it’s susceptible to a fungal canker disease (Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum) that kills trees within 15 years of infection. This hybrid is resistant to the disease. It can grow up to 6 ft. in a single year and fruit in 3-6 years from seed. Clusters of nuts form up and down the branches in great profusion. Plant more than one tree to ensure successful pollination.

While never abundant, Butternut still occurs in our area, in fact throughout most of New York State. Indeed there have been a few trees growing along the ridge behind the nursery, slowly declining. Unlike for the American Chestnut, no efforts are being made to rescue Butternut from the canker disease that afflicts it. Buartnuts are our best hope to maintain a tree resembling Butternut in our forests for both ecological and edible purposes.