Bitternut Hickory

Basisdaten

bitternut (Carya cordiformis) leaf
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) budding
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) flower
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) leaves and fruit
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) flowers
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) autumn colouring
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) branches
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) terminal bud
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) axial bud
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) terminal buds
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) trunk
  • bitternut (Carya cordiformis) crown winter
description: 

The Bitternut is common from the center to the coast of North America. It becomes rarely more than 200 years old. The wood is hard and is used for the furniture industry. The Indians used the wood for making bows also. The nuts are not edible.

Tree profile

name botanical: 
Carya cordiformis
other name: 
Bitternut
other name: 
Swamp Hickory
family: 
Walnut family (Juglandaceae)
species: 
deciduous tree
height: 
about 50 m (164 ft)
leaf: 

The leaves of Bitternut are 30 cm long, odd pinnate, up to 17 cm (6.7 in) long with 7 -11 lanceolate leaflets. The leaf margin is serrated.

leaf shape: 
imparipinnate
leaf margin: 
serrated
leaf position: 
alternate
fall foliage: 
bright yellow - brown
flowering: 
May
blossom color: 
yellow-green
blossom description: 

The flowers are small green-yellow catkins.

gender distribution: 
monoecious
fruit: 

The nuts are in a nutshell. The nut is large up to 3 cm (1.2 in). The nut has a bitter taste.

branches: 

The branches are first brown and hairy, later smooth and gray. The buds are yellowish with glandular scales.

bark: 
The bark is brownish and scaly.
root: 
Deep-rooting plant, root suckering
location: 
Sun to half-shade
soil: 
humid and tolerates poor soils
ph value: 
slightly acidic - slightly alkaline
usage: 

single tree