The message
from Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson
contains these words:

The message
from Martin Brown contains these words:



Rodger Whitlock wrote:

If you want to grow them: Juglans nigra is notorious for
preventing other plants from growing under its canopy and within
reach of its roots. They seem to poison the soil.

I know that in theory they do, but some plants will grow underneath
ours quite
happily.

Even lawn and narcissi will grow within a few feet of the trunk. I
suspect in
drier conditions the toxins it produces and the dryness underneath the
canopy of
big leaves makes more of a difference to competition but in the UK or
Belgium
with copious rain it seems to be less of a problem.

Regards,
Martin Brown

I agree. I have Cyclamen, Anemones, Erythroniums and other woodsy plants
growing under ours and right up to the trunk. I'd read that Juglans
poisons the soil but wondered whether it was Juglans regia that is
particularly bad.

Janet G

Apologies. I've just realised that I've got the two types the wrong way
round. Ours is common walnut which is Juglans regia and as Roger says it
is Juglans nigra which prevents other plants from growing near it.

Janet G