Abstract: ‘Yanyuanzao’is an early maturing improved walnut variety which was bred from wild seedling resources in Yanyuan County，Liangshan Prefecture，Sichuan Province. The nut with the relatively flat suture line is oval in shape，and the average nut weight is 17.3 g. The average nut shell thickness and kernel rate are 1.2 mm and 55%，respectively，and it is easy to take out the whole kernel. The kernel is full，fragrant and sweet. The cultivar has the characteristics of moderate growth potential and open crown，and the fruit mainly bore on the medium and short branches. In Yanyuan County，the male and female flowers are booming in early March simultaneously，and the fruit matures in early August，and the annual yield of nuts is 3 000 kg • hm-2（dry fruit）when entering the full productive age.

Key words: walnut, early maturing, cultivar