FNPS Plant Database

Carya aquatica

water hickory
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

water hickory

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Carya aquatica

Family:

Juglandaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

30-80 (100) ft tall by 25-50 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Inconspicuous blooms in early spring. Fruits ripen in fall. Lifespan 150+ yrs.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen tree in wet settings. This is a good plant to grow in floodplains.

Considerations:

Nut and leaf drop can be messy in a home landscape.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed (nut).

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Stays wet -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Mammals

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.

Ducks and other wildlife consume nuts. 

Native Habitats:

swamps

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Nuts are bitter.

General Comments:

Citations:

Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala [Technical coordinators]. (1990). Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654. ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/1548 ). Accessed 2025.


Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Caryaqua ). Accessed 2025. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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