Common Name:

pignut hickory

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Carya glabra

Family:

Juglandaceae

Form:

tree

Size:

30-100 ft tall by 30-50 (100) ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial; lifespan 200+ years (much older trees are known)

Flower Color:

yellow, green

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

deciduous; inconspicuous blooms in spring, yellow leaves and ripe nuts in fall 

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Excellent specimen or shade tree in areas where its roots will not be disturbed.

Considerations:

Does not tolerate root disturbance. The author has lost multiple trees due to a fungal root pathogen that was apparently able to enter the tree when roots were disturbed by vehicles and construction. Nut and leaf litter can be a problem in residential landscapes.

Availability:

Propagation:

seed

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Loam, Sand

Soil pH:

mildly acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B

Wildlife:

A favorite food of squirrels. 

Larval host for many moths including; luna moth (Actias luna), hickory leafroller moth (Argyrotaenia juglandana), royal walnut moth (Citheronia regalis), and walnut sphinx (Amorpha juglandis).

Native Habitats:

Xeric hammock, mixed upland forest, pine-oak-hickory woods

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

Nuts vary but in general, they are bitter.

General Comments:

Called pignut because pigs eat the nuts.