Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Sunday - April 01, 2012

From: Hillsborough, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Shrubs
Title: Will Calycanthus floridus (Eastern sweetshrub) grow near black walnut trees?
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Will Calycanthus floridus survive if planted near Black Walnut trees? If not, can you recommend a similar bush that will?

ANSWER:

One comment on the Dave's Garden page from "gonedutch" in Fairport, NY says that Calycanthus floridus (Eastern sweetshrub) tolerates growing near black walnuts, but I could find no mention of Eastern sweetshrub in either of the two articles I found about plants that are tolerant of walnut/juglone toxicity:

So, I suppose it is possible that Eastern sweetshrub is tolerant of juglone, but I can't say for sure.

However, here are several shrubs native to North Carolina that are listed as tolerant of growing near black walnuts:

Lindera benzoin (Northern spicebush)

Cercis canadensis (Eastern redbud)

Cornus florida (Flowering dogwood)

Asimina triloba (Pawpaw)

Ceanothus americanus (New jersey tea)

Chionanthus virginicus (White fringetree)

Physocarpus opulifolius (Atlantic ninebark)

Rhus aromatica (Fragrant sumac)

Rhus glabra (Smooth sumac)

Corylus americana (American hazelnut)

 

From the Image Gallery


Northern spicebush
Lindera benzoin

Eastern redbud
Cercis canadensis

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida

Pawpaw
Asimina triloba

New jersey tea
Ceanothus americanus

White fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus

Common ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius

Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica

Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra

American hazelnut
Corylus americana

More Shrubs Questions

Propagation of blackberry from Williamsport PA
January 18, 2014 - I have been told that if you cut a branch off of a black berry bush and stick it in water for a few days, and then put it in the ground it will grow into another bush. Please tell me if this is true a...
view the full question and answer

Retention pond from Hendersonville NC
April 24, 2012 - We have a retention pond that has recently been cleaned and we would like to plant perennial native plant and grass seeds that will enhance the appearance and contribute to the natural process of filt...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen native shrubs for poor drainage area in Cedar Hill, TX
March 21, 2008 - Hi! I have one (big!) bed in on the front of my house. Due to the way the house/motorcourt is built, that area (when it rains as much as it did last year!) doesn't drain well. I now have to replac...
view the full question and answer

Non-Toxic Hedge for Wisconsin
December 17, 2015 - What would be a good non-toxic for dogs, privacy hedge about 3-6 feet tall for Wisconsin climate zone 4b?
view the full question and answer

Stopping erosion on bank of a Florida retention pond
July 21, 2015 - I live on a retention pond, which has had all vegetation killed by the lake doctor. As a result the bank has eroded so there is a drop off directly to the water rather than a sloping bank. What plan...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.