Ask the Steward
Question: A woodworker friend of mine says there are Ebony trees growing in Indiana. I thought these were tropical species.
Answer: Yes- there is one Ebony tree species native to the state of Indiana. With its light colored sapwood it is sometimes referred to as ‘white ebony’ and can be found from Kansas to Connecticut and southward into Texas and Florida. In Indiana its primary range is south of Indianapolis.
Well known for its fruit, it is a great wildlife tree and a favorite among many Hoosier’s for pudding and pie. However, since these trees are typically dioecious, you’ll need both male and female trees to get fruit.
The wood is unique too, and while not highly sought after it can be somewhat valuable as a specialty wood. In years past the wood was used extensively for making the wooden head of golf club drivers due to its density, shock and wear resistance. The bark is dark and blocky and mature trees are generally mid-sized. Do you know the tree? The ebony tree of Indiana is of course the American (Common) Persimmon- Diospyros virginiana. Is there one in your woods?
Question: Can you really make syrup from Black Walnut sap? What other species can be tapped for syrup making?
Answer: Actually more species than you might think. While Sugar Maple is considered the king of syruping due to its flavor and high sugar content there are a surprising number of other species with a history of tapping. Among them are Red Maple, Box Elder, Sycamore, Birch, and for a special treat- Black walnut. While you’ll also see hickory syrup for sale it has little to do with the sap, as it is generally made by boiling the bark for flavor and adding it to sugared water.
Like maple syrup, walnut syrup is made by tapping trees for sap and boiling it. Fortunately, black walnut sap has approximately the same sugar content as Sugar maple and produces a great syrup with a mild nuttiness. Walnut syrup can also be blended with maple syrup to extend supply while still retaining its unique flavor.
Unfortunately, black walnut sap production is much lower than maple and the syrup more difficult to make. This difficulty is primarily due to the pectin found naturally occurring in the sap. During boiling the pectin thickens and becomes gelatinous making it much more difficult to filter the sap to produce clear syrup. Some have used the enzyme, pectinase, with some success to help breakdown the pectin during processing.
Tapping has also been found a bit tricky and the use of specially designed walnut spiles may increase sap yield. Walnut spiles are somewhat larger in diameter and longer than the traditional maple spiles. Tap hole depth is also important- only tap into the white sapwood area of the tree. If your drill shavings show dark heartwood, the tap is too deep; Drill too shallow and sap yield may be reduced. Conservative tapping guidelines recommend 1 tap for Walnut trees 10 to 18 inches in diameter. Larger trees can have 2 taps. STOP- before you jump into tapping get to know your trees! Black walnut is a beautiful and valuable timber and veneer species often commanding top dollar. For tapping select lower quality trees- if in doubt ask your forester.
For more walnut syrup information check out https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2016/01/tapping-walnut-trees/
Dan Ernst is a professional forester and past Assistant State Forester with the Indiana Division of Forestry. He has authored ‘Ask the Steward’ since 1992 and can be reached at foresterdan@yahoo.com