Carya tomentosa
White-heart hickory · Big-bud hickory · Mockernut hickory · White Hickory · Whiteheart Hickory
Description
Source: leafsnapCarya tomentosa, commonly known as mockernut hickory, is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It can grow up to 30-40 meters tall and features a broad, rounded crown. The bark is gray and smooth when the tree is young, but it develops ridges and furrows as it matures. The leaves are pinnately compound, composed of 7-9 leaflets that are dark green on top and paler underneath. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow before dropping. Mockernut hickory produces edible nuts with thick shells, making them difficult to crack open, but the nuts are highly nutritious once accessed. The wood of this tree is strong and durable, making it valuable for use in furniture making, tool handles, or firewood. This tree prefers well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade environments, such as forests or along riverbanks, where it can tolerate occasional flooding events. Overall, Carya tomentosa is an important species in eastern North America for both its ecological value and its economic significance. Humans have utilized this plant for centuries in various ways, from food sources to building materials.
🌳 Mockernut hickory not only has sturdy wood used for making tools and crafts, but it also provides an unexpected ecological benefit. It functions as an important food source for forest wildlife: its nuts give protein to squirrels, rabbits, and deer, while beavers eat its bark and twigs. Additionally, birds feed on the insects in its bark, helping with pest control.
🎭 Legal issues, clingy behavior
Care Guide
💧 Water Every 7 days
☀️ Light Full sun
The mockernut hickory prefers plentiful sunlight for vigorous growth, though it tolerates moderate light. Excessive shade can impede its development. Native to sunny habitats, it can handle varying light levels at different growth stages and shows resilience in less well-lit areas.
🌡️ Temperature 5–35°C
Native to North America, the mockernut hickory does well across a broad temperature range of 5 to 35 ℃ (41 to 95 ℉). During winter it can tolerate lows down to -20 ℃ (-4 ℉), and in summer it favors temperatures of 25 to 30 ℃ (77 to 86 ℉). Adjusting watering frequency and providing shade in hot summer months can help keep the mockernut hickory within its ideal temperature range.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-6
🌱 Fertilizer
Fertilize your Mockernut hickory in early spring to encourage healthy growth. Regular fertilization boosts overall health, producing vigorous growth, increased tolerance of harsh conditions, and improved resistance to diseases and pests. Keep a specific fertilization schedule for your Mockernut hickory to maintain foliage that is richly colored and lush in appearance.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Tree
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Carya
- Family
- Juglandaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-9
- Mature Height
- 18.29 m to 24.38 m
- Mature Spread
- 11.89 m to 17.98 m
- Leaf Color
- Green, Blue, Yellow
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Color
- Yellow, Green
- Flower Size
- 10.16 cm to 12.70 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Early summer
- Planting Time
- Autumn, Winter
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer