FNPS Plant Database

Carya glabra

pignut hickory

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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

Coming Soon!

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, FL. (wildlife uses)



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu /).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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