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Carya cordiformis - (Wangenh.)K.Koch.

Common Name Bitternut, Bitternut hickory, Swamp Hickory
Family Juglandaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Low wet to dry woods, stream banks and borders of swamps[43, 82], tolerating a range of soils[229].
Range Eastern N. America - Maine to Quebec and south to Florida.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Carya cordiformis Bitternut, Bitternut hickory, Swamp Hickory


Carya cordiformis Bitternut, Bitternut hickory, Swamp Hickory

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Carya cordiformis is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil  Seed
Edible Uses: Oil

Seed - raw or cooked[161, 177]. Thin shelled but bitter and astringent[82, 183]. Even squirrels tend to pass it over[226]. The seed is about 3cm long[229]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic  Diuretic  Laxative

The oil from the seeds has been used in the treatment of rheumatism[226]. The bark is diuretic and laxative[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fuel  Oil  Rootstock  Wood

An oil expressed from the seeds has been used as an illuminant in oil lamps[229]. Often used as a potted stock for grafting varieties of pecans (C. illinoensis)[227]. Wood - heavy, very hard, strong, elastic, tough, close grained[82, 227, 229]. It weighs 47lb per cubic foot[227]. Although the wood tends to be brittle, it has an amazing quality of shock-resistance and is used for hoops, tool handles etc, though it is considered to be inferior to other hickories[82, 227, 229]. A very good fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[229].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Pest tolerant, Aggressive surface roots possible. Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[1, 63, 137, 200]. Slow growing[200]. This is the hardiest and best growing member of this genus in Britain[11], unfortunately the seed is bitter[82]. Hybridizes in the wild with C. illinoensis[43]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[200]. Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1, 137]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[1, 200]. Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[137]. During this time they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[137]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to this country, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[137]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[137]. Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[229]. Special Features:North American native, Wetlands plant, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[78]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[78]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter[78, K]. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[200] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Ontario (south), Québec (southwest)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire (southwest), New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (east), Minnesota (southeast), Missouri, Nebraska (east), Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida (northwest), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Carya aquaticaWater HickoryTree20.0 5-9 SLMHNM102
Carya buckleyiBlack hickoryTree10.0 5-9 SLMHNM202
Carya carolinae-septentrionalisSouthern Shagbark, Southern shagbark hickoryTree20.0 0-0 SLMHNM202
Carya cathayensisChinese HickoryTree18.0 5-9 SLMHNM303
Carya floridanaScrub HickoryTree20.0 -  LMHNDM201
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Carya glabra megacarpaCoastal Pignut HickoryTree30.0 4-8 SLMHNM30 
Carya hybridsHybrid and neohybrid hickoriesTree40.0 4-11 MLMHNDM433
Carya illinoinensisPecanTree50.0 5-9 MLMHNM412
Carya laciniosaShellbark HickoryTree30.0 5-9 SLMHNM313
Carya myristiciformisNutmeg HickoryTree30.0 8-11 SLMHNM202
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Carya pallidaSand HickoryTree30.0 5-9 SLMHNM312
Carya texanaBlack HickoryTree15.0 5-9 SLMHNM202
Carya tomentosaMockernut,White Heart Hickory, Mockernut HickoryTree30.0 4-9 MLMHNDM314
Carya x laneyi Tree20.0 4-8 SLMHNM302
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Pterocarya fraxinifoliaCaucasian WingnutTree30.0 6-9  MHNM113
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Wangenh.)K.Koch.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Duane   Thu Mar 31 20:44:02 2005

it tastes bitter.... and it kind of tastes like peanuts but bitter peanuts....which makes it not good

Link: home dog its kind of good

vern wayne borson   Thu Mar 31 20:51:02 2005

tastes like chicken but bitter at that

Link: home cat mmmm

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Subject : Carya cordiformis  
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