SafePlants

Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)

The Bitternut Hickory, scientifically known as Carya cordiformis, is a large, native North American tree recognized for its adaptability and important role in forest ecosystems. It's a member of the pecan hickory group and is known for its distinctive yellow buds and bitter nuts.

Common Names

• Bitternut
• Swamp Hickory
• Pignut Hickory
• Yellow-bud Hickory

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that the bitternut and sometimes the pignut hickory nuts have thin shells and are considered bitter. While the text states that no hickory nuts are poisonous, the bitterness might deter consumption by pets.
• Debris from the fruit drops from late summer.

Considerations for Children

• The nuts are considered bitter and inedible by humans.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carya cordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch
• Family: Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)
• Synonym: Swamp Hickory
• Symbol: CACO15

Distribution and Habitat

• The Bitternut Hickory is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States and southwestern Canada, ranging as far south as Florida (Zone 4).
• It's considered the most abundant and uniformly distributed of all hickory species.
• This tree is commonly found in moist sites, such as upper flood plains and at the bottom of slopes, and in areas with rich soil and bottomland forests.
• It's a major component of the White Oak-Red Oak-Hickory forest.
• It is occasional in most sections of the state except in the higher Adirondacks or Catskills.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• The Bitternut Hickory is a tall, slender deciduous tree, typically growing to 60-80 feet (18-24 meters) in height, but can reach 100 feet (30 meters).
• It has a broad, rounded or pyramid-shaped crown and usually forms a single trunk about 1-3 feet in diameter.
• Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 7 to 11 leaflets that are bright green with finely toothed margins. Leaflets are 6" to 10" in length.
• The heartwood is light to medium brown with a reddish hue, while the sapwood is a paler yellowish brown.
• Distinctive sulfur-yellow buds make it easy to identify, and they are valvate (bud scales not overlapping).

Quirky Facts

• It is Canada's only native pecan hickory.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The bitter nuts are reportedly eaten by very few animal species.

Further Information

• Leafsnap is mentioned as an electronic field guide for identifying trees.