Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Juglandaceae

Genus:

Carya

Species:

Carya pallida

USDA Symbol:

CAPA24

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, woodpeckers

Fall Color:

yellow, golden-bronze

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Thick bark provides fire resistance. Commonly found in fire-maintained pine-oak ecosystems of the southeastern coastal plain.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

commonly found in upland areas with sandy soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–120 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Nuts should be planted fresh in fall or cold-stratified. Germination is hypogeal with deep taproot development.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI