Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra
Also listed as Hicorius glabra, Juglans glabra
Also known as Sweet Pignut, Hognut Hickory, Common Hickory
Climate Match for your location
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Pignut hickory is a tall, deciduous hardwood tree native to eastern North America, valued for its strong wood and small edible nuts. It displays attractive golden-bronze fall foliage and adapts well to a range of soil conditions.
Why grow it
Pignut hickory produces nuts smaller and thinner-shelled than shagbark or shellbark hickories, making them less practical for commercial harvest but still viable for wildlife food or small-scale use. The species tolerates a broader range of soil pH and moisture conditions than many hickories, including drier sites, which can be useful where growing conditions are marginal. Its dense, hard wood has historically been valued for tool handles and fuel, though this is rarely a primary reason for home cultivation today.
Watch out for
Hickories are slow to establish and can take 10-15 years before reliable nut production, requiring patience from growers. The nuts drop over an extended period rather than all at once, which can make harvest less convenient than species with synchronized drop.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Juglandaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Pignut hickory is a tall, deciduous hardwood tree native to eastern North America, valued for its strong wood and small edible nuts. It displays attractive golden-bronze fall foliage and adapts well to a range of soil conditions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Pignut Hickory grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Pignut hickory produces nuts smaller and thinner-shelled than shagbark or shellbark hickories, making them less practical for commercial harvest but still viable for wildlife food or small-scale use. The species tolerates a broader range of soil pH and moisture conditions than many hickories, including drier sites, which can be useful where growing conditions are marginal. Its dense, hard wood has historically been valued for tool handles and fuel, though this is rarely a primary reason for home cultivation today.
Watch out for
Hickories are slow to establish and can take 10-15 years before reliable nut production, requiring patience from growers. The nuts drop over an extended period rather than all at once, which can make harvest less convenient than species with synchronized drop.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Juglandaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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