The species is distinguished from the similar black walnut by such characteristics as its hairy twigs and leaves, terminal leaflet that is as large as the lateral leaflets, and oval hairy fruit with jagged ridges on the shell of the nut. In contrast, black walnut has smooth or only slightly hairy twigs and leaves with the terminal leaflet missing or smaller than the lateral ones; it has a globular, nearly hairless fruit with rounded ridges on the surface of the shell.
Cependant, chez le noyer cendrÃ©, les rameaux et les feuilles sont pubescents, la foliole terminale est aussi grande que les latÃ©rales, et la noix est ovoÃ¯de, Ã crÃªtes aiguÃ«s et Ã brou pubescent; chez le noyer noir, les rameaux et les feuilles sont glabres ou trÃ¨s faiblement pubescents, la foliole terminale est manquante ou plus petite que les latÃ©rales, et la noix est globuleuse, Ã crÃªtes arrondies et Ã brou presque glabre.