Juglone Tolerant Perennials and Shrubs

Posted by Aaron Barton on Mar 4th 2023

Juglone Tolerant Perennials and Shrubs
(Compatible with Black Walnut and Hickory Trees)

Juglone is an allelopathic chemical produced by all plants in the walnut family, Juglandaceae, that may inhibit the growth of nearby juglone-sensitive plant species. Plants suffering from juglone toxicity may appear stunted, yellow/brown in color, disfigured, or wilted. Juglone is present in all parts of the tree, as well as the root zone and associated soil. The highest soil concentration of juglone occurs within the dripline, generally a radius of about fifty to eighty feet surrounding the trunk of a mature tree. Fortunately, there are many tolerant perennial species, including a wide variety of native species adapted to grow alongside these excellent Minnesota native Juglandaceae trees. 

Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)

  • Amelanchier (Serviceberry/Juneberry)*
  • Andropogon (Big Bluestem)
  • Aronia (Black Chokeberry)*
  • Bouteloua (Sideoats Grama)
  • Campanula (Bellflower)
  • Ceanothus (New Jersey Tea/Redroot)*
  • Cercis (Minnesota Strain Eastern Redbud)*
  • Cornus (Dogwood)*
  • Deschampsia (Tufted Hairgrass)
  • Festuca (Fescue)
  • Fragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry)
  • Geranium (Cranesbill/Wild Geranium)
  • Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)*
  • Hemerocallis (Daylily)
  • Hypericum (St. John’s Wort)*
  • Ilex (Winterberry)*
  • Iris versicolor (Northern Blue Flag Iris)
  • Monarda (Wild Bergamot/Bee Balm)
  • Panicum (Switchgrass)
  • Physocarpus (Ninebark)*
  • Prunella (Selfheal/Heal-All)
  • Pycnanthemum (Mountain Mint)
  • Rhus (Sumac)*
  • Salix (Willow)*
  • Schizachyrium (Little Bluestem)
  • Solidago (Goldenrod)
  • Sorghastrum (Yellow Prairie Grass)
  • Sporobolus (Prairie Dropseed)
  • Symphoricarpos (Snowberry)*
  • Thuja (Arborvitae/White Cedar)*
  • Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
  • Veronicastrum (Culver’s Root)
  • Vitis (Grapevine)
  • Zizia (Golden Alexander)

Note: Many of these plants will grow in part sun exposure but will bloom best in full sun.

* Woody tree or shrub

Part Sun/Shade (0-6 Hours Direct Sun)

  • Adiantum (Northern Maidenhair Fern)
  • Ajuga (Bugleweed)
  • Arisaema (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
  • Astilbe (False Goatsbeard)
  • Athyrium (Lady/Painted Fern)
  • Carex (Sedge)
  • Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda/Alternate-Leaf Dogwood)
  • Chasmanthium (Northern Sea Oats)
  • Chelone (Turtlehead)
  • Diervilla (Northern Bush Honeysuckle)*
  • Dryopteris (Autumn/Male Fern)
  • Eurybia (Large-Leaved Aster)
  • Galium (Sweet Woodruff)
  • Hakonechloa (Forest/Hakone Grass)
  • Heuchera (Coral Bells)
  • Hosta (Plantain Lily)
  • Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea)*
  • Matteuccia (Ostrich Fern)
  • Mertensia (Virginia Bluebells)
  • Onoclea (Sensitive Fern)
  • Osmunda (Cinnamon/Royal Fern)
  • Pachysandra (Japanese Spurge)
  • Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper)
  • Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox)
  • Polemonium (Jacob’s Ladder)
  • Polystichum (Christmas Fern)
  • Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
  • Thalictrum (Early Meadow Rue)
  • Tiarella (Foamflower)
  • Tsuga (Canadian/Eastern Hemlock)*

Note: Many of these plants will grow in shady conditions but will bloom best in part sun.

* Woody tree or shrub

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