Carya tomentosa: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used as lumber, pulpwood, charcoal, fuelwood, veneer, ladder rungs, athletic goods, agricultural implements, dowels, gymnasium apparatus, poles, shafts, well pumps, furniture, pallets, blocking
Plant Profile: Carya tomentosa
Taxonomy: Carya tomentosaNames
Big-bud Hickory, Mockernut Hickory, Squarenut, White Heart Hickory, White Hickory
Phonetic Spelling:KAIR-yuh toh-men-TOH-suh
Genus:Carya
Species:tomentosa
Family:Juglandaceae
The Mockernut Hickory is a sizable deciduous tree indigenous to the eastern and central regions of the United States, thriving throughout North Carolina. This tree exhibits a slow growth rate, typically reaching heights between 50 and 80 feet or even taller. Its crown is characterized by a rounded and dense shape. It takes approximately 25 years for the tree to begin producing its edible nuts, but it can continue to yield them for up to 200 years. Known for its robust and straight trunk, the wood of the Mockernut Hickory is utilized for various purposes, including crafting items and as firewood. The wood is predominantly white, with a small amount of darker heartwood, which contributes to its common name.
This tree demonstrates adaptability to both sandy and clay loam soils, provided they have good drainage, and it exhibits drought resistance once established. It thrives best in full sunlight and rich, moist soil, requiring ample space for growth. Due to its deep taproot, transplanting can be quite challenging.
The Mockernut Hickory is an excellent choice for parks, spacious yards seeking shade, or naturalized landscapes.
In terms of pests and diseases, this tree generally faces few serious issues. Potential insect threats include the hickory bark beetle, pecan weevil, borers, and twig girdlers. Occasionally, it may be affected by diseases such as whiteheart rot, anthracnose, leaf blotch, powdery mildew, leaf spot, cankers, catlin blight, crown gall, and scab.
Carya tomentosa Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#shade tree
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#moths
#cover plant
#attracts squirrels
#furniture wood
#nuts
#small mammals
#food source
#low flammability
#NC native
#chipmunks
#black bears
#nighttime garden
#fire resistant
#pollinator plant
#Braham Arboretum
#parks
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#audubon
#hickory horndevil moth
#banded hairstreak butterfly
Similar Plants
Carya tomentosa is often confused with:
Carya tomentosa Feature Summary
Attributes
Used as lumber, pulpwood, charcoal, fuelwood, veneer, ladder rungs, athletic goods, agricultural implements, dowels, gymnasium apparatus, poles, shafts, well pumps, furniture, pallets, blocking
S. Ontario to Central & E. U.S.A
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
The Mockernut hickory is a host plant for Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) caterpillars which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May and many moths including the Luna moth. This is a larval host plant for butterflies and moths. It also supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. The nuts are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and black bears. Fruit is consumed by wood ducks, red-bellied woodpeckers, red fox, squirrels, beaver, eastern cottontail, eastern chipmunk, turkey, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and white-footed mice. Provide cavities for woodpeckers, black ratsnake, raccoons, and carolina chickadees
Deer. Fire in the landscape. Heat and drought tolerant.
Nuts are edible by humans but shells are hard to crack
Woody
Edible fruit
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
low flammability
Fruit
4-segmented husks are 1.5-3 inches wide and are green maturing to yellow then brown. Contains 1 light brown oval slightly compressed nut with a thick shell and edible seeds. Displays in October.
Nut
Green
Brown/Copper
Edible
Flowers
It has both male and female flowers that are non-showy. The male flowers are drooping greenish-yellow catkins up to 6" long. The female flowers are on short spikes with a feathery reddish stigmata being exerted from the green calyx. Blooms from April to May.
Gold/Yellow
Green
Insignificant
Catkin
Spring
3-6 inches
Leaves
9-20 inch long compound leaves are alternate, odd-pinnate and dark yellowish-green. They have 5 to 7 toothed ovate-lanceolate leaflets that are 3-6 inches long by 1-2 inches wide. Bases are cuneate to rounded and tips are tapered and acute. Undersides have orange-brown hairs. The stem is covered with resinous, pungent hairs and is aromatic when cut or bruised. The leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Gold/Yellow
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Alternate
Ovate
Lanceolate
Serrate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
The bark of both young and old trees exhibit smooth, rounded interlacing ridges with shallow furrows.
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Smooth
Ridges
Furrowed
Stem
The bark of branches is gray and smooth. Twigs are gray to grayish brown and stout. Young shoots are light green, light brown, or brown, densely pubescent. The terminal and stem buds are large at 1/2-3/4 inch, ovoid, with brown scales with hairs giving it the common name of Big-bud Hickory.
Brown/Copper
Green
Gray/Silver
Hairy (pubescent)
Straight
Hairy
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Tree
Native Plant
Deciduous
Rounded
Broad
Slow
Medium
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
more than 60 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Shade Tree
Specimen
Drought
Deer
Fire
Recreational Play Area
Lawn
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Messy
Carya tomentosa Image Gallery
Carya tomentosa Attributes
Carya tomentosa: Country Or Region Of Origin
S. Ontario to Central & E. U.S.A
Carya tomentosa: Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Carya tomentosa: Wildlife Value
The Mockernut hickory is a host plant for Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) caterpillars which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May and many moths including the Luna moth. This is a larval host plant for butterflies and moths. It also supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. The nuts are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and black bears. Fruit is consumed by wood ducks, red-bellied woodpeckers, red fox, squirrels, beaver, eastern cottontail, eastern chipmunk, turkey, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and white-footed mice. Provide cavities for woodpeckers, black ratsnake, raccoons, and carolina chickadees
Carya tomentosa: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Deer. Fire in the landscape. Heat and drought tolerant.
Carya tomentosa: Edibility
Nuts are edible by humans but shells are hard to crack
Carya tomentosa: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Carya tomentosa: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Carya tomentosa: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Carya tomentosa: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Carya tomentosa Fruit
Carya tomentosa: Fruit Description
4-segmented husks are 1.5-3 inches wide and are green maturing to yellow then brown. Contains 1 light brown oval slightly compressed nut with a thick shell and edible seeds. Displays in October.
Carya tomentosa: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Carya tomentosa: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Carya tomentosa: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Carya tomentosa: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Carya tomentosa Flowers
Carya tomentosa: Flower Description
It has both male and female flowers that are non-showy. The male flowers are drooping greenish-yellow catkins up to 6" long. The female flowers are on short spikes with a feathery reddish stigmata being exerted from the green calyx. Blooms from April to May.
Carya tomentosa: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Carya tomentosa: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Carya tomentosa: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Carya tomentosa: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Carya tomentosa Leaves
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Description
9-20 inch long compound leaves are alternate, odd-pinnate and dark yellowish-green. They have 5 to 7 toothed ovate-lanceolate leaflets that are 3-6 inches long by 1-2 inches wide. Bases are cuneate to rounded and tips are tapered and acute. Undersides have orange-brown hairs. The stem is covered with resinous, pungent hairs and is aromatic when cut or bruised. The leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall.
Carya tomentosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Carya tomentosa: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Carya tomentosa: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Carya tomentosa: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Carya tomentosa Bark
Carya tomentosa: Bark Description
The bark of both young and old trees exhibit smooth, rounded interlacing ridges with shallow furrows.
Carya tomentosa: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Carya tomentosa: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Carya tomentosa Stem
Carya tomentosa: Stem Description
The bark of branches is gray and smooth. Twigs are gray to grayish brown and stout. Young shoots are light green, light brown, or brown, densely pubescent. The terminal and stem buds are large at 1/2-3/4 inch, ovoid, with brown scales with hairs giving it the common name of Big-bud Hickory.
Carya tomentosa: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Green
Carya tomentosa: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Carya tomentosa: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Carya tomentosa: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Carya tomentosa: Stem Buds
Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless
Carya tomentosa: Stem Bud Terminal
Cluster of terminal buds
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds
Carya tomentosa Whole Plant Traits
Carya tomentosa: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Carya tomentosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Carya tomentosa: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Carya tomentosa: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Carya tomentosa: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Carya tomentosa: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Carya tomentosa Cultural Conditions
Carya tomentosa: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Carya tomentosa: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Carya tomentosa: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Carya tomentosa: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Carya tomentosa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Carya tomentosa: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Carya tomentosa Landscape
Carya tomentosa: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Carya tomentosa: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Carya tomentosa: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Carya tomentosa: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Carya tomentosa: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Carya tomentosa: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
