Swamp Hickory Carya glabra
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Swamp Hickory:
Previously known as:
- Carya leiodermis
- Carya magnifloridana
- Carya microcarpa
- Hicoria austrina
- Hicoria glabra
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAIR-yuh GLAY-bruh
- Description
-
Pignut Hickory is a medium to a large deciduous tree that is native to eastern southeastern, and central USA and parts of Canada. It is found in all areas of NC. As with most hickories, it is a strong, tall tree with a straight trunk and dense oval to rounded form. The wood is valued for its strength. Early settlers used it for broom handles and wagon wheels. Pignut Hickory produces nuts that can be bitter but are eaten by many different wildlife species; early settlers used the nuts for feeding hogs. It is also a host plant for Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) moth and the Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) butterfly.
It is adaptable to sandy or clay loams in well-drained soils in sun to partial sun. It is drought tolerant once established and has a deep taproot making it difficult to transplant. It may be difficult to find for sale commercially but can be used as a shade tree in large yards or parks.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: There are no serious insect or disease problems. Hickory bark beetle, pecan weevil, borers and twig girdler can be problems in some areas of its range. White heart rot, anthracnose, leaf blotch, powdery mildew, leaf spot, cankers, catkin blight, crown gall, and scab are occasional diseases. Large trees can produce considerable litter through twig, leaf, and fruit (nut) drop.
VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. odorata
- var. odorata
- var. odorata
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. odorata
- var. odorata
- var. odorata
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- glabra
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is used for lumber and firewood.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern Canada to Central & Southeastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV Canada: ON
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for Banded hairstreak butterfly and many moths including the luna moth. It supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. This plant also supports Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) caterpillars which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May.The nuts are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, black bears, deer, foxes, mice, wood ducks, hogs.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
- Edibility:
- Nuts edible but can be bitter
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an oval 4-parted husk 1 inch long and ¾ inches across, green maturing to brown. It splits in fall to release the nut. The nutshell is tan, oval and slightly flattened containing edible meats. Displays in October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Very small female flowers are a green pistil with a few bracts. Male flowers are in drooping catkins 2-4 inches long and yellow-green. Blooms from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The compound leaves are 8 to 12 inches, alternate, pinnately with 5-7 leaflets. Leaflets are 3-6" long and 1-2" across. The terminal leaflets are larger than the lower ones. They are lanceolate to elliptic, serrated and medium green. Undersides are paler and slightly hairy. Fall color is a nice yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Diamond
- Bark Description:
- Young trees is smooth with shallow cracks. As the tree ages, bark develops flat, sharp-edged ridges that form diamonds and x's.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The twigs are brown and glabrous. Smaller branches and twigs are often crooked.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Problems:
- Messy
