Black Walnut Collection Info

Updated for 2024 Season

Image credit: https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/products/black-walnut-tree

Maryland's 5 million trees initiative, our state-wide pledge toward the global 1 trillion trees initiative, needs YOUR help! You see, in order to plant 5 million trees, we need to GROW 5 million trees!

A central focus of the 5 million trees initiative is native tree seed collection. The goal is to boost the capacity of the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery. Frederick and Washington counties have actually led the state's black walnut seed collection efforts for the past decade, and thanks to local efforts black walnut trees are being grown at the state nursery to be planted across the state.

This year, we are hoping to collect more black walnuts than ever. Black walnuts provide an excellent food source for wildlife, and the tree itself is host to over 100 species of moths and caterpillars. The trees are also important to the local economy due to the beautiful high-quality lumber they provide. Black Walnut identification can be found on the 8 Billion Tree website. Learn more about black walnuts by following this link provided by USDA.

Black Walnut Tree ID chart, provided by 8 Billion Trees website (https://8billiontrees.com/trees/black-walnut-tree/)

We have 2 black walnut drop-off sites in our region:

Frederick County:  Gambrill State Park Office; 8602 Gambrill Park Road, Frederick, Maryland 21702

Washington County: Soil Conservation District Office; 1260 Maryland Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Collection Tips:

  • Black walnuts will be accepted from Monday September 23 up until end of October, or until the State’s max quota has been met. Please do not deliver walnuts outside of this time window. 

  • Start collecting walnuts when they start falling from the trees in late summer (September). Please do not collect walnuts that have fallen early and are very small, which occurs during drought conditions. These nuts are generally not fully formed or viable.

  • Nuts that have fallen on the ground and are black are fine for collection. Please do not submit nuts that are smashed.

  • There is no need to clean or shell the back walnuts. Please leave them in their husks.

  • Walnut husks can easily stain hands and clothes. Consider wearing gloves & clothes you don't mind getting dirty when collecting, particularly if the husks are starting to rot.

Image credit: 8 Billion Trees https://8billiontrees.com/trees/black-walnut-tree/

Drop off site information:

  • We accept ONLY black walnuts at the drop off sites. No other seed will be accepted.

  • Please deliver walnuts in the tubs placed behind the office buildings.

  • Please empty your personal bags of walnut into the provided tubs at the drop off sites. Do not leave your personal bags at the sites.

  • The Frederick County location is at a park office that is sometimes gated. Please drop off seed during daylight hours (between 7am-6pm) to avoid being locked out.

  • The Washington County drop off location is a partner site with no Maryland Forest Service staff nearby. Please keep this site clean to avoid any issues with our friends there at the soil conservation district office!

  • Walnut collection and drop-off are the responsibility of the volunteer. Maryland Forest Service staff or Forestry Board members do not have the capacity to pick up or collect walnuts from your property.

We appreciate your support in the Maryland black walnut seed collection campaign! Together, we can help grow and plant 5 million trees in our state. Keep an eye out for future blog posts and calendar events for local tree planting and seed collection efforts.

Questions on seed collection? Contact Anna Twigg, MD-DNR Tree Planting Specialist by email or call at 240-910-6740.

 
Antietam-Conococheague Watershed Allianceseed collection