FNPS Plant Database

Carya pallida

sand hickory
  • Photo by: public domain

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sand hickory

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Carya pallida

Family:

Juglandaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

80-100 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,green

Fruit Color:

green,brown

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree where falling/fallen nuts will not be a problem.

Considerations:

Slow growing. Nut and leaf litter may be a maintenance problem in residential landscapes.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Difficult to transplant except when sufficiently small that the tap root is not disturbed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

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

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

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

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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.

Small mammals (squirrels and other rodents) consume nuts. 

Native Habitats:

Dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Edible fruits.

General Comments:

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. 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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