Images of the Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)

Mockernut Hickory

Carya tomentosa

This native to the southeastern United States is the most abundant of all hickories. Trees can grow up to 30 m tall and live for 500 years. In the fall, large green-husked fruits turn brown and split open to reveal the edible nuts inside. The hard, durable wood of this hickory is used to make tool handles and other goods requiring high resistance to shock.

Habitat:Well-drain upland woods, ridges.

Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing slowly up to 30 m with open, with narrow crown, trunk often swollen at base.

Bloom Time:Mid-spring.

Longevity:Lives up to 500 years.

Presence in US:AL AR CT DC DE FL GA IA IL IN KS KY LA MA MD MI MO MS NC NJ NY OH OK PA RI SC TN TX VA WV

Presence in Canada:ON

This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).