胡桃科（Juglandaceae）植物广泛分布在亚洲、欧洲和美洲，都是落叶乔木，具有大型羽状复叶，叶一般长达20-100厘米。克朗奎斯特分类法单独分出一个胡桃目，属于金缕梅亚纲，2003年的APG II 分类法将胡桃科根据基因亲缘关系列入壳斗目。

本科植物共有8属，60余种，主要分布于北半球，中国有7属25种，分布在全国各地。胡桃和山核桃是重要的干果和油料作物，果皮可用于制造活性炭，木材坚硬，是重要的硬木产品，用于制作枪托等。枫杨是优良的行道树种，叶和放养野蚕。麻核桃则被广泛应用于文玩界。

The Juglandaceae are a family, known as the walnut family, of trees, or sometimes shrubs, in the order Fagales. Various members of this family are native to the Americas, Eurasia, and Southeast Asia. Members of the walnut family have large, aromatic leaves that are usually alternate, but opposite in Alfaroa and Oreomunnea. The leaves are pinnately compound or ternate, and usually 20–100 cm long.