Bitternut Hickory
Carya cordiformis · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Nut Tree, Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Native species (non-cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
About This Tree
A tall, straight-trunked tree with a slender, cylindrical crown. It is the fastest growing of the native hickories, featuring an open branching habit and slender, often pendulous, lower branches. It is easily identified in winter by its sulfur-yellow, valvate buds.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound, usually 7 to 11 leaflets; lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate in shape; 6-10 inches long. Fine-toothed margins; bright green and smooth above, paler and sometimes puberulent below. Leaves turn a clear, bright yellow in the fall.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and granite-gray when young; developing into shallow, tight fissures and thin interlacing ridges as it matures. It does not peel in large plates like Shagbark Hickory, remaining relatively firm and plate-like.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Central and Eastern North America, from Ontario to Florida and west to Texas.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (May); flowers in spring; nuts ripen in early autumn (September-October); enters dormancy in late autumn; exhibits bright golden-yellow fall color.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade; prefers moist, well-drained soils but is more tolerant of wet, poor-drainage sites than other hickory species. Moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Reaches heights of 60 to 80 feet with a spread of 30 to 50 feet. Moderate growth rate for a hickory. Can live for over 200 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for its shock-resistant and hard timber, commonly used for smoking meats and making tool handles. Notable for its striking sulfur-yellow dormant buds and beautiful golden autumn foliage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides a food source for squirrels, rabbits, and mice (though the nuts are bitter due to high tannin content and usually a second choice). It is a larval host for the Luna Moth and Regal Moth. Cavity-nesting birds often utilize older specimens.