🌿 Morphology
🌞 Growing conditions
🌍 Origin and family
🌾 Uses
Warning: Despite the care taken in writing this sheet, it is essential to cross-reference sources before using or consuming any plant. When in doubt, consult a qualified professional
Permaculture uses
The nuts are edible raw or cooked, but are small and can be bitter. The wood is a high-quality fuel and can be used for smoking meats. The tree provides shade and windbreak benefits in a permaculture system. The bark can be used for medicinal purposes, historically as a poultice. No specific cultivars are particularly noted for permaculture applications.
Permapeople description
Carya glabra, the pignut hickory, is a common hickory in the eastern United States and southeast Canada. It is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree, typically growing to a height of 20-30 meters (66-98 feet). The nuts are edible, but they are generally considered less palatable than other hickory nuts due to their bitter taste.
Botanical description
Carya glabra, the pignut hickory, is a tree in the Juglandaceae family, native to eastern North America. It is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically reaching heights of 50-70 feet (15-21 meters), with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters). The bark is gray and smooth when young, becoming deeply furrowed with age. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) long, with 5-7 leaflets. The leaflets are lanceolate to obovate, 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm) long, with finely serrated margins. The flowers are monoecious, with male catkins and small, inconspicuous female flowers. The fruit is a nut, 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) in diameter, enclosed in a thin husk that splits open into four sections at maturity. The nut is usually rounded and hard-shelled, containing a relatively small kernel.
Companion planting
Pignut hickory benefits from association with other forest trees such as oaks and maples. Avoid planting near black walnut (Juglans nigra) due to juglone toxicity. No significant specific plant associations are particularly well-documented for this species in permaculture.
Propagation methods
Pignut hickory is typically propagated by seed. The seeds should be stratified (cold-moist stratification) for several months to break dormancy. Grafting is also possible, but less common. Seedlings require protection from deer and other herbivores. Root cuttings are difficult and not typically used.
History and traditions
Native American tribes used the pignut hickory for a variety of purposes. The nuts were eaten as a food source, though often considered less desirable than those of other hickory species due to their smaller size and sometimes bitter taste. The wood was used for making tools and implements. The bark was sometimes used medicinally. Historically, settlers also utilized the wood for fuel and construction.
Usage calendar
Flowering occurs in the spring (April-May). The nuts mature in the fall (September-October). Planting is best done in the spring or fall. Pruning, if needed, should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Harvesting the nuts occurs in autumn when they fall from the tree.