Home PageAlso known as the Butternut or the White Walnut, J Cinerea comes from the US but is in serious trouble there from a disease known as Butternut Canker (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum. This is not a native disease in the US and was first observed in Iowa in 1967, though it's believed to have spread from the southeastern coastal region. The age of the oldest cankers found suggests that it first appeared there around 40-50 years ago.
Although there are research efforts trying to find resistant specimens and to find a control for the disease, it may be too late to save the species in North America. Even as far back as 1995, the Forest Service estimated that 77 percent of Cinerea trees in the Southeast were dead. Indeed new grafted plants on J Regia roots are going back there from the UK and Europe in a reversal of the trade in vines after the 19th century phylloxera epidemic, but it is much too early to know whether these trees will demonstrate useful resistance. There is further information here
As a tree, Cinerea is valued for its sheer size and its hardiness and the timber was much used in carving and furniture. It was common for Cinerea to planted on farmsteads, close to the house. Nut kernels were used in baking, and the husk was often used to dye fabrics. In the American Civil War, Confederate uniforms were dyed using butternut husks.
Young Cinerea