Anyone who wants to plant a walnut tree in their garden or already has a tree in their green oasis naturally wonders how old their companion can live. We know the answer!
How old does a walnut tree get?
A walnut tree can live up to 160 years in its native region, while in Germany, Austria and Switzerland it lives an average of around 100 years. However, exceptions are possible; there are walnut trees that are over 200 years old.
How old does a walnut tree get?
In its homeland (Mediterranean region, Balkan Peninsula and Middle East and Central Asia), a he althy walnut tree usually lives up to 160 years. In Germany (and of course also in Austria and Switzerland) the average age of a walnut is around 100 years - provided it is well cared for over the long term.
So it may even be possible to spend your entire life with a walnut tree (the tree often exists longer than its human friend).
Note: Unfavorable circumstances such as illnesses can significantly reduce the attainable age.
However, there are also cases in which walnut trees massively exceed their assigned age: two Juglans regia are recorded in the DDG list of record trees that lived for over 200 years (203 and 208 years old, respectively) - impressive.
Note: Refined walnuts are shorter-lived. They rarely live to be over 100 years old.
“Milestones” of the growing walnut tree
Here is an overview of the most important stages that a walnut tree goes through during its life:
After two years it really starts to grow. It grows one to two meters per year
Note: The situation is different with cultivated varieties: the growth rate in this case depends on the variety. Varieties that produce high yields early tend to grow slowly. Many cultivars have a growth rate of between 50 and 100 centimeters per year.
- The walnut tree grows particularly quickly up to its 30th year. Then the growth slows down - and also changes in terms of course: the crown becomes a little more wide. This also marks the beginning of the main phase of fruit formation.
- From around the age of 40, the walnut's ability to expand its crown decreases again.
- At the age of 60 to 80, the height growth of the walnut tree is completely complete - now the aging phase sets in and the yields decline.
Note: A seedling grown from a walnut will usually reward you with its first harvest in its tenth year at the earliest; it often takes even 15 years. With cultivated varieties, however, abundant yields are possible from the fourth to sixth year.
