# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![pignut hickory](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carya_glabra_NRCS-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. South Natio, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carya_glabra_NRCS-1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Juglandaceae - **Genus:** Carya ## 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 - **Tough Timber:** Pignut hickory has incredibly dense and strong wood that helps it resist storms and provides sturdy material for animals seeking shelter. - **Nutty Harvest:** This tree produces small, pear-shaped nuts, providing vital food for many forest creatures, helping them survive harsh winters. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on young saplings and leaves - **Eats:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — Forages for fallen hickory nuts - **Shelter:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Dryobates pubescens*) — Forages for insects on its bark ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## 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 to identify pignut hickory? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [South Glastonbury Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-glastonbury-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Orient Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/orient-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Arboretum Serach (Esslingen)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arboretum-serach-esslingen) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park [View all places to see pignut hickory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pignut-hickory) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pignut Hickory: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pignut-hickory)