Wood: The wood is heavy, hard, strong, easily worked and has an
attractive grain. Iowa is a leading producer of walnut timber which is the
single most important tree in terms of price per tree. Noted as the finest
lumber in North America, this wood was shipped to England from Virginia
as early as 1610. Products include gunstocks, veneer and fine furniture.
Wildlife:The nuts make up 10% of squirrels' diet and they help to disperse the seeds. Red-bellied woodpeckers and beavers also eat the nuts, and the strongly flavored, oily kernel makes it commercially important for baking and flavoring.
Horticulture:Walnut trees are rarely planted as lawn trees-they require exacting soil conditions, are subject to wind and ice damage, produce messy fruit and the toxic substance from their leaves may kill some ornamentals in the vicinity.
