# Scrub Hickory (*Carya floridana*)

The Scrub Hickory is a special tree that grows in sandy places. 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
- **Habitat:** Sandy forests

![Scrub Hickory](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scrub_Hickory_Leaf_ERD.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Eric Dion at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scrub_Hickory_Leaf_ERD.JPG)

## Appearance

The Scrub Hickory is a small, often shrubby tree with distinctively ridged bark, which is darker brown than its smooth, younger branches. Its leaves are glossy green and compound, bearing small, round nuts encased in thick, reddish-brown husks.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Fagales
- **Family:** Juglandaceae
- **Genus:** Carya

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny nuts taste super sweet, making them a delicious treat for both animals and people!
- Native Americans would pound its sweet nuts to make flour or a rich, milky drink.
- This tough little tree can grow in incredibly sandy places where most other plants struggle to survive.
- When animals bury its nuts for later, they often forget some, accidentally planting new hickory trees!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Master:** Scrub Hickory can thrive in dry, sandy soils thanks to its deep root system, helping it find water others can't.
- **Fire Resister:** This hickory has thick bark that protects it from wildfires, and it can even resprout from its roots after a burn.
- **Nut Powerhouse:** Scrub Hickory produces small, sweet nuts, providing essential energy and food for many animals in its harsh habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 500-1000 cm
- **Spread:** 300-800 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Loves to gather and bury its sweet, tiny nuts.
- **Shelter:** [Sand Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sand-pine) (*Pinus clausa*) — Often found growing alongside this dominant scrub tree species.
- **Shelter:** Chapman's Oak (*Quercus chapmanii*) — Co-exists in dry scrub environments, sharing resources.

## 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.
- [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.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be careful around trees; don't climb too high and watch for falling branches.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Scrub 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 Scrub Hickory?

500-1000 cm

### How wide does Scrub Hickory spread?

300-800 cm

### When does Scrub Hickory bloom?

Spring

### Is Scrub Hickory edible?

Yes

### Is Scrub Hickory toxic?

None

### What is Scrub Hickory's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Scrub Hickory pollinated?

Wind

## 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*)

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Source: [Scrub Hickory: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scrub-hickory)