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(Carya alba)
Mockernut Hickory (Carya alba)
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Katja Schulz
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Katja Schulz
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Katja Schulz | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Katja Schulz | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-08-08T14:31:16-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Carya alba, commonly known as Mockernut Hickory, is a deciduous tree native to the deciduous forests of the Eastern and Central United States. It typically grows to a height of 20-100 feet (6-30 meters) and a width of 20-40 feet (6-12 meters), with a dense, rounded crown. The tree is known for its large compound leaves that can be up to 20 inches long, with 7 to 9 leaflets that turn golden in the fall. The bark is gray and furrowed, becoming more pronounced with age. Mockernut Hickory produces inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers in the spring, followed by large, hard-shelled nuts that are an important food source for wildlife.
Mockernut Hickory is valued for its hard, durable wood and the shade it provides. It is less commonly used in urban settings due to its large size and slow growth rate, but it can be found in larger landscapes, parks, and naturalized areas. The tree prefers well-drained soils and is tolerant of a range of moisture levels, though it does best with consistent moisture. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade. While it is not known for significant disease problems, it can be susceptible to hickory bark beetle. The nuts are edible but are most often left for wildlife due to their hard shells.CC BY-SA 4.0
Mockernut Hickory is valued for its hard, durable wood and the shade it provides. It is less commonly used in urban settings due to its large size and slow growth rate, but it can be found in larger landscapes, parks, and naturalized areas. The tree prefers well-drained soils and is tolerant of a range of moisture levels, though it does best with consistent moisture. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade. While it is not known for significant disease problems, it can be susceptible to hickory bark beetle. The nuts are edible but are most often left for wildlife due to their hard shells.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree
- Height: 50-100 feet
- Width: 20-40 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Fragrant
Natural Habitat
Native to deciduous forests of the Eastern and Central United States
Other Names
Common Names: Mockernut, White Hickory, Whiteheart Hickory, Hognut, Bullnut
Scientific Names: , Carya tomentosa, Carya alba, Juglans tomentosa, Carya alba var. anomala, Carya tomentosa var. subcoriacea, Juglans squamosa, Juglans alba, Carya alba var. ovoidea, Carya tomentosa f. ovoidea
GBIF Accepted Name: Carya alba (L.) Nutt.