FNPS Plant Database

Carya glabra

pignut hickory
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pignut hickory

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Carya glabra

Family:

Juglandaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

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

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,green

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Inconspicuous blooms in spring. Yellow in fall. Nuts ripen in fall. Lfe span 200+ yrs (much older trees are known)

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Fall Color, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

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:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Very 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:

mildly 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:

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).

A favorite food of squirrels. 

Native Habitats:

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

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Nuts vary but in general, they are bitter.

General Comments:

Called pignut because pigs eat the nuts.

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


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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