pignut hickory
ExplorePlants
pignut hickory
Carya glabra
The pignut hickory is a tall tree that grows in forests. It has strong wood and produces tasty nuts that many animals love to eat!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The pignut hickory is a tall tree with a straight trunk and a rounded crown. It has smooth gray bark when young, becoming shaggy or ridged with age. Its bright green leaves are compound, typically displaying five narrow, pointed leaflets.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFagalesFamilyJuglandaceaeGenusCarya
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its compound leaves often have exactly five pointy leaflets, like a splayed hand!
Its nickname 'pignut' comes from pigs loving its small, hard-shelled nuts!
Pignut hickory wood is so strong, it was used for wagon wheels and tool handles!
This mighty tree can live for hundreds of years, making it a true forest elder!
Special abilities
Ability
Tough Timber
Pignut hickory has incredibly dense and strong wood that helps it resist storms and provides sturdy material for animals seeking shelter.
Ability
Nutty Harvest
This tree produces small, pear-shaped nuts, providing vital food for many forest creatures, helping them survive harsh winters.
Ability
Deep Anchor
The pignut hickory grows a very deep taproot that helps it find water deep underground and stay upright during strong winds.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 2000-3500 cm
- Spread
- 900-1500 cm
- Flower Size
- 5-10 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eats
Eastern grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Feeds on its nutritious nuts
eats
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Browses on young saplings and leaves
eats
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Forages for fallen hickory nuts
shelters
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
Forages for insects on its bark
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Nut Bearing
Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Timber
Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and watch out for falling nuts!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is pignut hickory?
2000-3500 cm
How wide does pignut hickory spread?
900-1500 cm
How big are the flowers on pignut hickory?
5-10 cm
When does pignut hickory bloom?
Spring
Is pignut hickory edible?
Yes
Is pignut hickory toxic?
None
What is pignut hickory's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is pignut hickory pollinated?
Wind
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