Red Hickory
Carya glabra var. odorata
- Native to:
- United States
GBIF: Byron Carmean
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- Carya glabra var. odorata
- USDA Symbol:
- CAOV3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow-green
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), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), 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)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- squirrels, turkeys, woodpeckers, deer, black bears
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, golden-bronze
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides moderate fire resistance. Can resprout from root crown after top-kill by fire. Benefits from periodic low-intensity fires that maintain open woodland structure.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 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:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seeds germinate best. Plant in fall or cold-stratify. Germination may be erratic; some seeds may remain dormant until the second spring.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Notes: Seeds may require a period of cold stratification before germination.
Source: Claude AI