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  • From: Carolyn Ulrich <cultivated@sbcglobal.net>
  • To: gardenwriters-on-gardening <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Testing Soil & black walnuts
  • Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:59:42 -0500

RE: black walnuts...Roy Diblik, owner of Northwind Perennial Farm in Springfield, Wisconsin, has his display gardens under black walnuts because that's what was there when he bought the property and he didn't feel like cutting them down. We have a story on this coming out in the July-Aug. issue of Chicagoland Gardening, written by Maryalice Koehne of Milwaukee and GWA member. She got a lengthy list of plants that grow under black walnuts from Ohio State U. Extension. In Chicagoland Gardening, we will be publishing the following list of plants that Roy has successfully grown. Roy is a great plantsman who is growing the perennials for the garden that Piet Oudolf designed for Chicago's Millennium Park (which took a millennium to construct but which will finally be finished this year--we also have the most amazing Frank Gehry band shell with gigantic curling ribbons of aluminum almost completed). Carolyn Ulrich

Plants Grown by Roy Diblik under black walnuts:
TREES
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

VINES
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
SHRUBS
Arborvitae (Thuja spp.)
Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii and most other Viburnum species

ANNUALS
Pansy (Viola)
Zinnia

PERENNIALS
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana)
American wood anemone (Anemone quinquefoli)a
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum)
Astilbe spp.
Bellflower (Campanula latifolia)
Sedges: Carex pennsylvanica, Carex rosea, Carex muskingumensis, Carex plantaginea 
Bleeding heart  (Dicentra spectablis)
Shooting star (Dodecatheon media)
Crested wood fern (Dryopteris cristata)
Leather fern,  (Dryopteris marginali)s
Cranesbill geraniums
Grasses (most)
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Coral bells (Heuchera)
Hosta species: H.lancifolia, H. marginata, H.undulata 'Variegata'
Hyacinth 'City of Haarlem'
Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)
Lilyturf (Lirope spicata)
Wood rush (Luzula sylvatica)
Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
Peony (some)
Phlox (Phlox paniculata) and P. stolonifera
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans)
Great Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum commutatum)
Primrose (Primula x polyantha)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica)
Goldmoss stonecrop (Sedum acre)
Showy sedum (Sedum spectabile)
Tiarella
spp.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
Nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum)
White wake-robin (Trillium grandiflorum)
Big merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora)
Speedwell (Veronica x hybrida 'Eveline')
Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

______________________________-
A list of black walnut-tolerant plants compiled by Ohio State University Extension also includes Japanese maples, rose of Sharon, fibrous begonias, morning glory, sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), Euonymous spp, snowdrops, glory of the snow, grape hyacinth, crocus, sweet woodruff, and Dutchman’s breeches.

***********************

Ohio State University Extension has also compiled a list of plants that do NOT grow within 50 feet of the drip line of a black walnut tree. It includes the following:

PERENNIALS
Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Asparagus
Chrysanthumums (some)
Baptisia australis
Lilies (particularly the Asian hybrids)
Narcissus 'John Evelyn,' 'Unsurpassable' 'King Alfred' and 'Ice Follies'
Peonies (some)
Rhubarb

SHRUBS
Mugo pine (Pinus mugo)
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Hydrangea spp,
Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
Potentilla spp.
Rhododendron (most)
Blackberry
Lilacs
Yew (Taxus spp.)
Double file viburnum (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum 'Mariesii')

ANNUALS and VEGETABLES
Cabbage
Peppers (some)
Tomatoes
Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)



On Friday, April 16, 2004, at 06:58 AM, Melanie wrote:

Melanie Vassallo, Long Island NY zone 6b
 
Thanks for the reminder to get our soil tested. Last year I finally dug out some soil and brought it to a local nursery that tests for free. They couldn't run the test, they said the soil I brought them was moist and only very dry soil could be tested. They suggested I microwave the soil until it dried out but it seemed to me that that might kill/change certain elements in the soil and I passed on that.
 
One spot in my garden has very black soil. When it rains a lot (like this past week) I find tiny bits of burnt wood. Either there was a massive tree there that had burned down years ago or it was a fire pit at one time. Indians lived in this area, the previous owner found many arrow heads here. I tried removing as much soil as possible and replacing it with composted manure but it always turns black again. Although some plants died in that spot, the good news is many plants thrive in there.
 
In the back yard I'm dealing with black walnut toxicity from the neighbor. What plants have you had success with under a black walnut? Don't send me a site with a listing, I'd prefer first hand experience. So far my daylilies aren't happy there, neither is the witch hazel I planted last year. Mondarda seems to be fine. It's in full sun.
 
Off to dig,
Melanie
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