Purvis English Walnut Seedling (Bundle of 2)

Overview

These are seed-grown English walnut (Juglans regia) trees raised from nuts collected on Bob Purvis’ farm in Homedale, Idaho in the fall of 2023. The seed was stratified over winter and grown in pots through the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The walnuts originate from a selected tree bred by Bob’s neighbor and avid fruit grower, Garfield Schultz, making these seedlings derived from locally adapted, intentionally selected material rather than random wild stock.

History & Origin

The mother tree from which these seeds were collected was selected for nut quality and performance in a cold-interior site relative to most English walnuts. While these are seedlings and therefore genetically variable, they trace back to a known, intentionally bred tree rather than an unknown or feral source.

Nut Quality & Uses

The walnuts have very good eating quality, with a sweet, clean, nutty flavor and a crunchy texture. One notable trait is the lack of bitterness—there is little to no bitter aftertaste, which is not always the case with English walnuts, especially in colder climates. These are well suited for fresh eating, baking, and general kitchen use.

Cold Hardiness

The mother tree has withstood winter lows of −20°F without any winter injury. Beyond that, cold tolerance has not yet been fully tested. Based on the performance of the mother tree and regional context, it is reasonable to suspect tolerance to at least −25°F, and possibly −30°F, though this has not been confirmed. Because these trees are seed-grown and still young, true cold limits remain uncertain and should not be considered authoritative at this stage. For now, these walnuts are conservatively listed as Zone 5 English walnuts, with the possibility that they may ultimately prove suitable for Zone 4 conditions pending further observation.

Notes on Seed-Grown Material

Because these trees are grown from seed, variation in growth habit, cold tolerance, and nut characteristics should be expected. This makes them especially interesting for growers interested in selection, adaptation, and long-term breeding potential, but they should be planted with the understanding that performance will vary from tree to tree until proven otherwise through time and exposure.

These Walnuts are all 1-2 ft.