English Walnut tree seeping black liquid in early winter and now cloudy liquid from 2 small holes - Ask Extension
Hello, we bought a house 2 years ago that has a large walnut tree (I think English Walnut and 12' in circumference) and in the early winter on one sid...
Knowledgebase
English Walnut tree seeping black liquid in early winter and now cloudy liquid from 2 small holes #924864
Asked February 21, 2026, 2:02 PM EST
Hello, we bought a house 2 years ago that has a large walnut tree (I think English Walnut and 12' in circumference) and in the early winter on one side it started seeping a black liquid. in the last month it started seeping a clear liquid from 2 separate small holes (~1/8") that in the last few days has turned cloudy. We have not done anything to create the holes and do not know what created the holes. The tree is very close to the house and we are concerned about it falling on the house if it is compromised.
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
I share your concern. So close to the house it could also be a black walnut depending on how old your home is. Curious, there are no walnut shells on the ground around the tree?
There could be a lot of reasons but one that comes to the mind of plant pathologist is root rot. (Ink spot if black walnut.) We do see that problem in this area a lot. One of the hall marks is that back liquid ooze. There are a lot nutrients in that ooze which can be colonized by lots of different organisms which will make it cloudy as you see. Might even develop into several different colors later as things warm up a bit.
This is just a guess based on your text and images. Have a look at this write up to see if it matches and for management tactics you might take: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/walnut-juglans-spp-phytophthora-root-rot
In any case, have a certified arborist come out and have a look at it as well.
There could be a lot of reasons but one that comes to the mind of plant pathologist is root rot. (Ink spot if black walnut.) We do see that problem in this area a lot. One of the hall marks is that back liquid ooze. There are a lot nutrients in that ooze which can be colonized by lots of different organisms which will make it cloudy as you see. Might even develop into several different colors later as things warm up a bit.
This is just a guess based on your text and images. Have a look at this write up to see if it matches and for management tactics you might take: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/walnut-juglans-spp-phytophthora-root-rot
In any case, have a certified arborist come out and have a look at it as well.
