Carya myristiciformis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAIR-yuh MUH-riss-tick-aa-for-miss
- Description
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Nutmeg hickory is a large, deciduous, slow-growing tree that is the rarest of its species worldwide, but may be found in small numbers in a range from the mountains of northeastern Mexico to the coastal plain of North Carolina. At maturity, it will reach close to 100 feet high, but in its first 20 years of growth, it may only reach 30 feet high. This plant prefers full sun and moist rich soils and can be found on the banks of rivers and swamps, occasionally on higher ground, and often on limestone. The specific epithet myristiciformis refers to its seeds, which are similar to nutmeg seeds. The bark is scaly and reddish brown with a diamond-shaped pattern of ridges.
The tree will tolerate sandy or clay soils and is drought tolerant, but will not grow in the shade. Nutmeg hickory has a large tap root that can reach 4 feet or more into the ground and should be planted in its permanent location as soon as possible. Although the tree may be relatively late coming into leaf and lose its leaves early in the autumn, it does cast a heavy shade when leaves are present. The Nutmeg hickory leaf initially has an underside covered with silvery-golden scales that turn bronze as the leaves mature.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. Insects will attack hickory, but damage is not usually catastrophic.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- myristiciformis
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is hard and strong and burns well with lots of heat.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern and southwestern United States
- Distribution:
- Found in NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK, and TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Squirrels and rodents eat nuts. Larval host plant to Luna moth. 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.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought
- Edibility:
- Seeds are edible, sweet tasting, but with a thick shell.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Elliptical 1 to 1.2 inch long nut with a thick husk splitting along four ridges. The seed ripens in late autumn and can be stored in its shell in a cool place for at least 6 months
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant flowered catkins with scaly stalks and bracts.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 7 to 14 inch alternate, pinnately compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets; silvery underneath with yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Diamond
- Bark Description:
- Dark brown with fissures turning into long thin scales with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs brown to bronze, slender, without hairs, densely scaly. Terminal buds bronze, ovoid, essentially without hairs, densely scaly; axillary buds protected by bracteoles fused into hood.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
