Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © ptibble (iNaturalist #14895642)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- Carya glabra
- USDA Symbol:
- CAGL8
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- green, yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrobasis caryalbella, Acrobasis kearfottella, Acrobasis stigmella, American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Coleophora ostryae, dejected underwing (Catocala dejecta), elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), Epione underwing (Catocala epione), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), hickory shoot borer (Acrobasis caryae), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Inconsolable Underwing (Catocala insolabilis), Luna moth (Actias luna), mourning underwing (Catocala flebilis), oak leafroller (Acrobasis angusella), Old Wife Underwing (Catocala palaeogama), pecan leafminer (Cameraria caryaefoliella), Penitent Underwing (Catocala piatrix), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), residual underwing (Catocala residua), Splendid Royal Moth (Citheronia splendens), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), Yellow-Banded Underwing (Catocala retecta), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), hickory hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorum)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Coptodisca lucifluella, pecan leafminer (Cameraria caryaefoliella), skiff moth (Prolimacodes badia), Stigmella caryaefoliella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- squirrels, chipmunks, woodpeckers, turkeys, deer, bears
- Fall Color:
- yellow, gold, orange
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides fire resistance in mature trees. Resprouts vigorously from root crown after top-kill by fire. Common in fire-maintained oak-hickory ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers upland areas with good drainage
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cold stratification. Plant nuts horizontally at 2-3 inch depth. High quality nuts show better germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 90 to 120 days
Establishment: C. glabra is found within temperate deciduous forests of eastern North America.
Source: npn.rngr.net