Pignut Hickory is a medium to a large deciduous tree that is native to eastern southeastern, and central USA and parts of Canada. It is found in all areas of NC. As with most hickories, it is a strong, tall tree with a straight trunk and dense oval to rounded form. The wood is valued for its strength. Early settlers used it for broom handles and wagon wheels. Pignut Hickory produces nuts that can be bitter but are eaten by many different wildlife species; early settlers used the nuts for feeding hogs.
It is also a host plant for Hickory Horndevil Citheronia regalis moth and the Banded hairstreak Satyrium calanus butterfly. It is adaptable to sandy or clay loams in well-drained soils in sun to partial sun. It is drought tolerant once established and has a deep taproot making it difficult to transplant. It may be difficult to find for sale commercially but can be used as a shade tree in large yards or parks.
Hickory bark beetle, pecan weevil, borers and twig girdler can be problems in some areas of its range. White heart rot, anthracnose, leaf blotch, powdery mildew, leaf spot, cankers, catkin blight, crown gall, and scab are occasional diseases.
Large trees can produce considerable litter through twig, leaf, and fruit nut drop. Carya ovata. Carya tomentosa. Quercus rubra. Tweet this Page Share on Facebook. Previously known as: Carya leiodermis Carya magnifloridana Carya microcarpa Hicoria austrina Hicoria glabra. Williams CC BY 2. It supports Hickory Horndevil Citheronia regalis which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September.
Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. This plant also supports Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus caterpillars which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. The nuts are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, black bears, deer, foxes, mice, wood ducks, hogs. Edibility: Nuts edible but can be bitter Dimensions: Height: 60 ft. Width: 25 ft. It splits in fall to release the nut.
