PlantFiles: Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra

One of the most visible trees along the roadsides in Autumn. The Pignut hickory has an intense color that sets it apart from the rest of the forest. The vibrant mustard colored leaves look almost electric.

I'm not sure that one would be a good choice for a small property as the leaves and nuts can get pretty messy as they fall, but for larger areas, one could be stunning if it were set away from gutters and walkways.

This tree grows well in fairly rich, well drained to dry soils. It is native from Maine to Florida.

The gray bark, sometimes smooth, may be marked in a sort of diamond pattern by shallow furrows and narrow ridges. Wood is great for smoking meat.

It does not transplant easily as it has a large taproot.

Fall color is very pretty with yellow leaves. Prefers full sun to partial shade.

The pignut is also called the redheart hickory, and grows throughout the Southeastern USA. The tree is usually about 60 to 80 feet tall, but can grow to over 100 feet in ideal conditions. It has five leaflets and the outer husk of the nut is thin. The nuts are small, unridged, and often bitter. Unfortunately I believe I have several of these trees growing on my property, as I would far rather have the better tasting shagbark (C. ovata) or shellbark (C. laciniosa).

The Indians used hickory wood for their bows and for handles for tools, as did the early settlers.

So named because pigs are often allowed to forage for the bitter nuts as they fall to the ground.

Native Americans leached out the bitter compounds, then ground the nuts into a meal or flour. The hardwood, like most hickories, is suitable for tool handles and cabinetry, although its use is declining.