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Red Hickory Carya glabra var. odorata

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Red Hickory:

Previously known as:

  • Carya ovalis
Phonetic Spelling
KAIR-yuh GLAY-bruh oh-dor-AY-tuh
Description

Red Hickory is large deciduous shade tree in the walnut family. It prefers full sun in well-drained soil with a sandy substrate. 

More information on Carya glabra.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#native tree#moth caterpillar host#squirrel friendly#edible nuts#small mammals#NC native#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#deciduous tree#food source hard mast fruit#hickory horndevil moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#native tree#moth caterpillar host#squirrel friendly#edible nuts#small mammals#NC native#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#deciduous tree#food source hard mast fruit#hickory horndevil moth#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Carya
    Species:
    glabra
    Family:
    Juglandaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern U.S.A., NC
    Distribution:
    Found in Maine south to FL west to LA and OK north through Missouri, IO, east through WI and MI
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. Squirrels eat the nuts. Larval host plant to the Luna moth.
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Food Source
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Nearly globose 1-1.5 inch thin husked nut.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Male flowers are spikes of light-green six-stellate flowers from May to June. Stems are reddish in color. The female flowers are bizarre-looking, with a tuft of sticky green tissue emerging from a swollen base individually or in groups of 2-3 at the ends of new twigs.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Compound leaves have 5-9 lanceolate and finely serrated leaflets. Leaves are dark green on the upper surface and lighter with fine hairs underneath.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Shaggy
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Smooth finely shaggy developing obvious close interlacing shaggy bark.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals