Quick question, probably for someone in the east. Are irises able to live near Black Walnut?

I asked that same question a while back. Several people quickly spoke up to say that iris can live near / under black walnut trees with no problems caused by the trees.

Is the problem only with black walnuts, or walnut trees in general?

I have 2 black walnut trees and have irises directly under them and downhill from them. Doesn't affect them at all.

http://extension.psu.edu/plant...

Lyn, I have my Iris near a black walnut with no problems what so ever.

All of mine are next to one. Only reason I wouldn't recommend growing near it are the squirrels and roots. Every morning and sometimes later in the early summer I have to throw them out my garden. If I don't the squirrels will enter. I think they mistake the rhizomes for nuts and that's my only issue. There is black walnut saw dust everywhere from squireels nibbling through the nuts from above. Rhizomes are fine and increasing and so far zero toxic issues. The tree is tall, but I think fairly young still.

Thank you, everyone

I have a long iris bed under two black walnut trees. There's no problems with the irises at all, but I do keep the fallen walnut (and other leaves) out of my iris beds.

The litter is annoying, but the Iris are growing well under mine.

I'm I the only one without a black walnut tree? over the years I've wanted to get a Chandler Walnut tree but the are so expensive and was told they take a long time to produce nuts.

iciris said:I'm I the only one without a black walnut tree? over the years I've wanted to get a Chandler Walnut tree but the are so expensive and was told they take a long time to produce nuts.

Here in the east, the native black walnut is everywhere. There are many plants that can't live within its root zone/drip line because all its parts, especially the roots, contain a toxin. The nuts are edible, but opening them requires a hammer or some such thing as the shells are incredibly hard and thick.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one growing under or next to one..whew

When the nuts fall on the roof it sounds like a bomb going off. You jump up freaking out then you hear the pitter patter of little squirrel feet so you sit back down shaking your head and trying to calm your racing heart.

The Chandler Walnut has an easy to crack shell. The nut meat is light in color. I think these are the ones they grow in commercial walnut groves in California.

Of course the stain on hour hands if you handle them is always fun!

tveguy3 said:Of course the stain on hour hands if you handle them is always fun!

tveguy3 said:Of course the stain on hour hands if you handle them is always fun!

At least your hands will match your furniture!

I wonder if the juglone (I think that's what the toxin is called?) helps prevent some varieties of weeds? Black Walnut trees may be a blessing near the iris garden!

gemini_sage said:I wonder if the juglone (I think that's what the toxin is called?) helps prevent some varieties of weeds? Black Walnut trees may be a blessing near the iris garden!

I guess it's *possible* that the WEED problem might be less, but I would say it's a *certainty* that the SQUIRREL problem would be MUCH worse ! Between planting them, and digging them, the "tree rats" sure do make a mess of the iris beds

I don't think it does. I'm still fighting foxtails, chickweed, crabgrass and whatever else I missed and I have 2 black walnut trees in my yard.