These 7 Nut Trees Can Survive Freezing Winters, According to Expert Growers

Hazelnut

If you enjoy the rich, sweet, buttery taste of hazelnuts (Corylus avellana), consider cultivating this attractive tree with multi-seasonal interest. "Hazelnut trees are exceptionally well-suited to cold climates, thriving through harsh winters and reliably producing nuts even in regions with late spring frosts," says Kristi Baldini of Windswept Gardens.

This deciduous shrub or small tree thrives in hardiness zones 3 to 9. It has a rounded shape and broad, serrated leaves that turn yellow in fall. The plant produces delicious hazelnuts encased in leafy husks, with male catkins that appear in late winter and early spring. For winter care, water deeply in fall before the ground freezes, and apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch, such as wood chips, around the base. Keep the mulch 2 inches away from the trunk to avoid rot.

Black Walnut

The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a large tree known for its dark, diamond-shaped bark and large, compound leaves with numerous leaflets. It produces distinctive hard nuts encased in a green husk that darkens as they ripen. David Fried, co-owner of Elmore Roots, highlights that this tree is an excellent choice for cold climates, thriving even in temperatures as low as 30 degrees below zero during winter, and is suitable for growing zones 4 to 9.

When planting the tree, Fried recommends installing a strong cedar post on each side. "This will give them a larger presence so they do not get mowed or stepped on by mistake, as they tend to blend in with the scenery," he says.

Heartnut

A cold-hardy relative of the walnut, the heartnut tree (Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis) is prized for its graceful form and sweet, easy-to-shell nuts, offering beauty and bounty in cooler regions, says Brines. Thriving in zones 4 to 9, this hardy tree features heart-shaped nuts and is drought-tolerant once it matures. It boasts leathery, tropical-looking, pinnately compound leaves with serrated, bright green leaflets, providing a lush feel, with yellow-green catkins that come in the spring.

When these trees are young, they require additional protection from harsh weather and animals. In winter, it's important to safeguard them against sunscald. Using a light-colored commercial tree wrap or a plastic tree guard, cover the trunk from the base to the first set of branches. This will help shield the trunk from extreme conditions and rodent damage.

Korean Nut Pines

Hardy in growing zones 3 to 8, this tree is easy to cultivate in the northern regions of the country. "We have found them to require little or no care after planting," Fried notes. The nuts have a mild, sweet, buttery, and nutty flavor. They are often compared to cashews, with a unique piney note. This cold-hardy evergreen features soft blue-green needles in bundles of five. When young, it has a pyramidal shape, which becomes broad, rounded, and columnar with age.

With a tolerance for poor soils, this striking tree can live for up to a thousand years. "Even if it gets really cold and there is a heavy frost, it does not seem to affect the nut production that year. These are some of the easiest food-producing trees to grow," says Fried.

Butternut

Also known as white walnut, the butternut tree (Juglans cinerea) is an excellent option for growing zones 3 to 9, as it can withstand temperatures below freezing. Its nuts have a milder, less tannic flavor than black walnuts, offering a sweet, rich, creamy texture that is ideal for snacking or making nut butter. The tree features light gray, furrowed bark, large compound leaves with sticky hairs, and produces sweet, football-shaped nuts.

While this tree thrives in cold climates, it is susceptible to a fungal disease known as butternut canker, which causes branch dieback and trunk cankers, leading to tree mortality. The cankers appear as elongated sunken dark patches on the bark. To help keep this disease at bay, maintain annual pruning and remove any dead or dying branches.

Shagbark Hickory

Often likened to pecans, shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) produces deliciously rich, sweet, and buttery nuts. The impressive North American tree, thriving in growing zones 4 through 8, is renowned for its unique gray bark that peels off in shaggy plates. Its large, edible nuts typically measure 1 to 1.5 inches and ripen from September to October. Standing 70 to 90 feet tall, this tree features an oblong crown and a straight trunk. In spring, it produces understated yellow catkins, enhancing its appeal without being overly showy. Most nut trees require two seedlings nearby for nut production; however, this tree is self-fertile.

Beaked Hazelnut

Beaked hazelnut trees (Corylus cornuta) thrive in cold regions, such as USDA zones 2 to 6. This wonderful, hardy, and disease-resistant tree gradually develops into a beautiful understory thicket, providing habitat for wildlife. The hazelnuts are encased in an intriguing husk that resembles a bird's beak, and they boast a flavor profile that is sweet, rich, buttery, and earthy. This native deciduous shrub or small tree produces fuzzy, serrated leaves and yellow male catkins in the spring, and tiny bright female flowers in late winter to early spring before the leaves form.