Carya glabra (Pignut Hickory)

The most shade-tolerant and drought-tolerant of the native hickories, pignut hickory is a long-lived, low-maintenance specification choice for upland hardwood forest restoration - though its large taproot means site selection is a one-time decision.

Species Overview

Carya glabra, commonly known as pignut hickory, is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States. It typically grows to a height of 50 to 80 feet, with a straight trunk and an oval to rounded crown. The tree is characterized by its compound leaves, each composed of five to seven leaflets with finely serrated edges. In the fall, the leaves turn a vibrant yellow, adding seasonal interest. Pignut hickory produces small, pear-shaped nuts enclosed in a thin husk, which mature in the autumn and are an important food source for wildlife.

Application

• Upland hardwood forest restoration on dry, well-drained sites
• Long-term shade tree specification, particularly on dry, rocky sites where other trees struggle
• Wildlife habitat plantings - nuts are an important food source for songbirds and small mammals
• Larval host habitat for large native moths

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Full Shade - the most shade-tolerant native hickory
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Dry, well-drained rich loams and silty clays; deep taproot
• Drought Tolerance: High
• Flood Tolerance: Moderate - Rated intermediate flood tolerance in a university tolerance reference table.
• Plant Type: Tree
• Mature Height: 50-80 ft. (occasionally to 100 ft.)
• Fall Color: Yellow
• Bloom Color / Period: Yellow, Green, Brown; April
• Wetland Indicator Status: FACU (Facultative Upland) - Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain region
• Native Range: Nearly all of the eastern United States, from central Florida north to southern Massachusetts
• Hydrology: Dry-Mesic
• Salinity Tolerance: Low
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
• Root Depth: Very Deep (36 in.+) - deep taproot, notoriously difficult to transplant
• Growth Habit: Upright
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
• Pollinator Value: Larval host, supports butterflies, supports moths
• Juglone Tolerance: Tolerant