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Carya cordiformis

Carya cordiformis

Bitternut hickory, Swamp hickory, pignut hickory, yellow-bud hickory

Description

Carya cordiformis (bitternut) comes from Eastern North America and Southern Canada. The bitternut is found growing there along riverbanks and in mixed deciduous forests: from low-lying flood plains to higher elevation woodland, with, amongst others, Acer saccharum and Tilia americana. It is the fastest growing and most common Carya. The crown of Carya cordiformis is oval and attains an ultimate height of fifteen to twenty-five metres, approximately ten to fifteen metres wide, and becomes more open and broader with maturity.

The leaves are composite pinnate and comprised of seven to nine lanceolate leaflets with finely serrated margins, changing colour to a spectacular golden yellow in autumn.  The slender, yellow-brown twigs have characteristic sulphur yellow buds. Carya cordiformis blooms in May, bearing green-yellow catkins that hang down. The small, heart-shaped nut produced is encased in a husk with four ribs which splits open when the nut is ripe. Unlike those of the other Carya, these nuts are extremely bitter and not edible. The young bark is smooth and grey but develops shallow ridges or furrows as it ages.

The bitternut grows on all soil types but prefers damp, well-drained soils. Also tolerant of drought since the tree sends out deep roots. Grows best in full sun to partial shade but in the early years will take shade. As a relatively narrow tree with an upright main trunk, the bitternut can be used as an avenue tree but is also a great choice in parks, and Carya cordiformis can even be used as an alternative in the landscape for the ash.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees feathered trees multi-stemmed trees characteristic trees

Use

Location

avenue park central reservation large garden cemetery

Pavement

none none

Characteristics

Crown shape

flattened spherical flattened spherical ovoid ovoid

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

15 - 25 m

Width

10 - 15 m

Winter hardiness zone

5B - 9B

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty heavy clay light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

low in nutrients moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist wet

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral alkaline

Host plant/forage plant

birds small mammals

Extreme environments

tolerant to dryness

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Carya cordiformis? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify

Flowers

Flowers

catkins discrete pendulous

Flower colour

yellow-green

Flowering period

May

Leaves

Leaf colour

dark green underside pale green

Leaves

deciduous ovoid lanceolate polished slightly hairy serrate pinnate composite

Autumn colour

yellow

Fruits

Fruit colour

green

Fruits

striking small nut husk

Bark

Bark colour

grey

Bark

smooth, later on rough

Twigs

Twig colour

yellow-brown

Twigs

bare vertical branches

Root system

Root system

deep extensive tap root

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Winter hardiness zone
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Coastal area
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Use
Location
OK
Pavement
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Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
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m
OK
Width
m
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m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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