FNPS Plant Database
Carya tomentosa
mockernut hickory
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
mockernut hickory
Synonym(s):
Carya alba
Genus species:
Carya tomentosa
Family:
Juglandaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
tree
Size:
60-80 (90) ft tall by 40-50 ft wide
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
brown
Phenology:
deciduous
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Large shade tree. Plant where falling/fallen nuts will not be a problem.
Considerations:
Plant where nut and leaf litter will not be a problem.
Availability:
Propagation:
Seed. Difficult to transplant unless done when small enough not to impact the top root.
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat 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:
Sand
Soil pH:
acidic to neutral
Suitable to Grow In:
8A, 8B, 9A, 9B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Small mammals (squirrels and other rodents) consume nuts.
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:
Dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
Nuts are edible. The wood is prized for furniture, flooring, tool handles, baseball bats, skis, and veneer. Hickory wood has a very high fuel value, both as firewood and as charcoal, and is the preferred wood for smoking hams.
General Comments:
