The native range of this tree extends from southeastern Europe to the Himalayas to China. Also called Madeira-Nut or Persian Walnut, it was introduced to California from Spain, via Chile in the late 1860s and its fruit, the walnut, became a California commercial product in 10 years. Cultivations do well in cool climates and high altitude. This nut is widely used in ethnobotanical medicine and as a natural dye.