Heartnut
Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis
Heart-shaped walnuts that crack cleanly in two.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 8
Light: full sun
Size: about 40 ft tall, 40 ft wide
Harvest: September to October
From: Japan
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: East Asia, Japan & its islands. Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
The story
The heartnut is a Japanese walnut selection whose shell splits cleanly into two halves shaped like a heart; it was eaten in the mountains of Japan for centuries and came to North America around 1870. Hardier than Persian walnut and happier in humid summers.
Planting
Full sun, deep drained soil, and room for a wide 40-foot tree; like other walnuts it poisons tomatoes nearby. Plant a grafted variety; two cross-pollinate better.
Growing
Water young trees deeply, mulch wide, and prune in late summer. It leafs out late and dodges spring frost.
Harvest and use
Nuts drop in clusters in autumn; hull, dry two weeks, and crack by tapping the point. The kernel pops out whole; mild and sweet.
What to watch for
Walnut bunch disease, husk fly, and squirrels.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home