Plant · GBIF taxon 3054354
Southern California Walnut
Juglans californicaAlso known as California Black Walnut, California Walnut, Southern California Black Walnut
Southern California walnut often develops multiple sprawling trunks, forming distinctive open woodlands across coastal hills and riparian canyons. Its crushed, pinnate leaves release a sharp, spicy fragrance characteristic of the walnut family. The tree drops its foliage during dry summer months or late autumn, relying on thick bark and a deep root crown to resprout vigorously after frequent wildfire.
DeciduousNative TreeWoodland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Western Gray Squirrel
- California Ground Squirrel
- Walnut Husk Fly
ThreatsUrban development, altered fire regimes, and thousand cankers disease
HabitatsRiparian canyons, chaparral slopes, and oak woodland ecotones
Life span50–100 years
Classification
- OrderFagales
- FamilyJuglandaceae
- GenusJuglans
- SpeciesJuglans californica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by its multi-trunked shrubby habit, dark furrowed bark, and spherical nuts encased in thick green husks.
- Support conservation
- Refrain from climbing trees or removing wild nuts, which provide essential regeneration material for declining stands.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for pinnately compound leaves with 9 to 15 small, pointed leaflets and small, spherical green nuts.
- Fragrance Check: Gently crush a fallen leaflet to detect the distinctive pungent, citrusy-resinous aroma.
- Habitat Etiquette: Remain on designated paths in walnut groves to protect fragile root systems and surrounding slope stability.
Frequent Companion (c) Franco Folini, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Seed Disperser "Western Gray Squirrel" by sonstroem is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Skyler K, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Skyler K · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Anne Parsons · cc0
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