Crepe Myrtle near black Walnut?

Hi:) I have a bunch of crepe Myrtle volunteers and am wondering how close they can be planted to a black walnut. Does anyone know if crepe Myrtle is jugulone tolerant?

Hi Kimberly
I have grown bunches of Crepes
I have no idea if they are tolerant and since you haven't received any answers I would like to propose a suggestion.
You say volunteers, I'm assuming around another from seed or root sprouts?
Whichever the case, I suggest moving them into pot for the time being so they won't be so difficult later. They grow well in pots.
The Test... depending on how many you have and if you want to risk it on someone's "word". You might as well go ahead and plant 1 near it, right up against it. However you wish or want.
If you look at the base of the Walnut, you should be able to gauge the direction of one of the main roots and maybe even pick a spot in that direction and possibly find a big root and plant it right on top of it.
Just make sure in case it does survive that it's where you would prefer the Crepe to be. Let it go for a year or so.
The others, if they are small they will be fine in a plastic container for a couple years. and if you have to you could always up pot them or choose other spots.
You could also plant them different distances away from the Walnut.
If any start to show signs you could also move them and they should recover fairly quickly.
No real reason to wait.

You may be able to contact your local AG extension office, they may be able to point you in the right direction if they cannot provide you with an answer.

I hope this helps. Good Luck

Thanks! Have you ever used crepes as a living trellis?

No, but considering how fast they grow and flexible the young limbs are it could easily be formed into a trellis with the right pruning. It would take some planning, but definitely be done.

Hi Kimberly :)
If you are near Fresno you have California Black Walnuts, I'm in Missouri, I have a slightly different type. But what I have learned is things that are native to it's area are generally tolerant of the jugulone, and non-native are the ones that die fast. Which makes sense, anything growing near them normally that couldn't handle it died off long ago, and their progeny is tougher.

So around here I'd say the crepe myrtles would stand a good chance. I don't know about there. I do agree with Will though, potting some up and putting just one as a test victim near the tree would be a good way to test it. If you have a bunch of them, put them in a line going toward the tree and you can figure out exactly how far away they need to be. I'd expect it to vary based on water flow off the tree (water flow may move some of the jugulone,) and possibly sunlight under the tree (crepe myrtles that are not shaded may have stronger growth in general.)

:D

Thanks Pearl!

Pearl Sutton wrote:
If you have a bunch of them, put them in a line going toward the tree and you can figure out exactly how far away they need to be. I'd expect it to vary based on water flow off the tree (water flow may move some of the jugulone,) and possibly sunlight under the tree (crepe myrtles that are not shaded may have stronger growth in general.)

The only other factor that I can think may exist is the placement of the crepe relative to the Walnuts' roots. In the planting line or distance theory one crepe may be closer or it's roots may grow out to be closer to the roots of the Walnut resulting in it being affected faster than one that is closer to the Walnut tree itself but is further from any of it's roots. Bit of an unknown unless you have x-ray vision. Never the less, I would have a test subject on a root or near as you can for a while to see if it will be affected and I would go ahead and plant wherever you would like them to be. The testing etc. could take a week a month a year or several.

Life is too short. Make it as you envision it and Mother Nature will decide, those that survive will be beautiful.

I don't have a definitive answer for you but I can tell you that some people have had success with planting crepe myrtles close to a black walnut. From what I know, crepe myrtle tends to be juglone tolerant, but it's always best to be safe than sorry and give them plenty of breathing room!

I live in North Virginia. I moved to my current house 23 years ago. There was an existing black walnut and about 20 feet from the tree, a crepe myrtle. They are still both thriving.

I have black walnut everywhere around here, and I see absolutely no sign that juglone impedes growth of other stuff, at all. Grasses, other trees, bushes, gardens, whatever. If volunteer plants have started growing up under the walnut, that is evidence that they can grow there. I wouldn't worry about it in the least. I am sure juglone exists, but I have serous doubts that it has any meaningful effect on nearby plants.