Water Hickory
Carya aquatica
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- Carya aquatica
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- greenish-yellow, yellow
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agrippina Underwing (Catocala agrippina), Sad Underwing (Catocala maestosa)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive clay or loam
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in floodplains and wetland areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Stratification in moist medium at 33-40°F for 30 to 150 days. Seeds stored for more than a year may require only 30 to 60 days stratification. If cold storage facilities are not available, pit stratification with about 2 ft. of compost, leaf, or soil cover to prevent freezing. Prior to cold treatment, nuts should be soaked in water at room temperature for 2 to 4 days with 1 to 2 water changes per day.
Establishment: The plant is found mostly in poorly drained, heavy clay flats; largest specimens are found in the lower Mississippi Valley. Also, natural levees and banks of rivers and streams, and flood plain forests where the duration of flooding is relatively brief.
Source: npn.rngr.net