Woody > Carya > Carya glabra > Carya glabra
Carya glabra
Pignut Hickory
Origin: Native from Maine to Ontario, south to Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A native species often found in climax forests in association with beech and maple. Seldom used in the landscape and is a valuable lumber tree. The nut is attractive to both wildlife and humans. It does produce juglone.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Juglandaceae |
| Genus |
| Carya |
| Species |
| glabra |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 4 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -26 to - 32 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| - 20 to -30 |
| Height |
| 25 m |
| Spread |
| 15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A large coarse looking tree with light green compound foliage. |
| Landscape |
| Very limited use in the landscape. Produces Juglone which limits what is grown around or under it. |
| Cultivation |
| Well drained to dry, fairly rich soil. |
| Shape |
| Oval pyramidal with pendulous branching habit. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Five leaflet leaves and a nut with 4-6 distinct ridges. |
| Pests |
| Tent caterpilars are occasionaly a problem. |
| Habitat |
| Climax forests, hillsides and ridges. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Smooth gray-brown developing rounded ridges that form an irregular diamond shaped pattern. |
| Leaf Description |
| Alternate, pinnately compound with 5 leaflets, about 20-30 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Monoecious - Male is in 7.5 cm drooping catkin, female in few-flowered terminal spikes |
| Fruit Description |
| Nutlet - subglobose 2-3 cm long with 4 to six distict ridges, seeds are bitter sweet. |
| Colour Description |
| Green in summer, rich golden yellow in autumn. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario. |
| Propagation |
| Nuts should be soaked in water at room temperature for 2-4 days with water changes 1-2 times per day. Stratify in a moist medium at 4 °C for 30-150 days. Plant in 3 gallon containers in a bark medium, cover with a screen and place outside over winter. Germination takes place in the spring. Produces a pronounced tap root with minimal shoot growth in the first year. Cultivars are budded or grafted on seedling understock. |
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