How to identify Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)

How to identify Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)

Pignut hickory, also known as Smoothbark hickory, Sweet pignut

Pignut hickory stands as a robust deciduous species, typically reaching a height of 65-130 feet (20-40 meters) with a trunk diameter averaging about 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 meters). It features a dense, oval to rounded canopy. The bark is tight and ridged, providing a striking texture. The leaves are pinnately compound, usually with five leaflets that have finely serrated edges. The male and female flowers are separate, with the male flowers in drooping catkins. It bears rounded nuts encased in a thin husk, which is a notable characteristic for identification.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Pignut hickory

Rounded nuts in thin husks, distinctive of pignut hickory

Pinnately compound leaves with 5 finely serrated leaflets

Distinctive bark with tight ridges forming diamond and X patterns

Oval, 4-parted husk maturing to brown, enclosing a tanned nut

Male flowers in drooping catkins, female flowers smaller with green pistils

Detailed Traits of Pignut hickory

Leaf Features

The leaves of pignut hickory are compound, measuring 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) in length, and are arranged alternately along the stem. Each leaf consists of 5 to 7 leaflets, with individual leaflets measuring 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) long and 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) across. The terminal leaflet is notably larger than the others. Leaflets are lanceolate to elliptic in shape, with serrated edges and a medium green color. The undersides are paler and slightly hairy. In the fall, these leaves turn a striking yellow.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

Pignut hickory exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism in its flowering structure. The male flowers present as drooping catkins, measuring between 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in length, and display a yellow-green coloration. Female flowers are much smaller, consisting of a green pistil adorned with a few bracts. These floral structures bloom between April and May, adding a subtle charm to the plant's overall appearance.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of pignut hickory exhibits a brown and glabrous texture, providing a smooth appearance to the touch. It features smaller branches and twigs that are often crooked, contributing to an irregular branching pattern. Typically, the stem measures around 0.4 to 0.8 inches (1 to 2 cm) in diameter, displaying moderate thickness. The overall structure of the stem, including its color and unique crooked branching, aids significantly in the identification of pignut hickory.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of pignut hickory is showcased by an oval, 4-parted husk, approximately 1 inch long (2.54 cm) and ? inches across. Initially green, it matures to a brown hue. As autumn approaches, this husk splits open to relinquish an enclosed nut. The nut itself is tanned, bearing an oval, slightly compressed shape, and is notable for its palatable kernel. These nuts typically present themselves in October, a distinguishing characteristic of the species.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them

Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Pignut hickory and Their Similar Plants

Shagbark hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is a hickory tree native to the United States and Canada. Shagbark hickory grow edible nuts that have a sweet taste. Andrew Jackson, a famous historical United States president, was nicknamed old hickory after the tree which has tough wood.

Bitternut hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

Bitternut hickory is most often used for lumber due to its durability. It is utilized for building items such as furniture, ladders, or tools. Due to it being hickory, it is used to smoke meat.

Sand hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

Sand hickory (Carya pallida) is a tree species that can grow to be 24 m tall. Sand hickory is native to the southeastern United States. This species produces edible nuts.

Pecan vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

Pecan is a valuable nut tree for commercial cultivation. This native plant of North America produces nutritious pecan nuts, and the wood is valued for making veneer, furniture, and for smoking meats when rendered into charcoal.

Water hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

It is considered important in cleansing drainage waters since the plants slow water flow during flooding, allowing sediments to fall out of the water column. This tree species is tolerant of wet soils but grows best on well draining soils near rivers and other water ways.

Shellbark hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

Wildlife and people harvest most of them; those remaining produce seedling trees readily. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and very flexible, making it a favored wood for tool handles. A specimen tree has been reported in Missouri with 1.2 m diameter at breast height, 37 m tall, and a spread of 23 m.

Red hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

The red hickory is generally encountered as a medium-sized tree, capable of growing to 30 m in height. The single trunk is straight and often continues for the entire height of the tree, although sometimes splits into several large limbs once the canopy has been breached.

Nutmeg hickory vs. Pignut hickory: What's The Difference?

Nutmeg hickory is a medium-sized deciduous tree with a broad, rounded crown, often found in wet, sandy soils along rivers and floodplains. Its bark is deeply furrowed, and its pinnate leaves contribute to a dense canopy. The fruit is a distinctive, elongated drupe resembling a small, hard pear. Each autumn, nutmeg hickory sheds its leaves, flanking its habitat with a golden-brown hue.

Identify Pignut hickory easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Pignut hickory

Attributes of Pignut hickory

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

20 m to 30 m

Spread

9 m to 15 m

Leaf Color

Green

Stem Color

Brown

Leaf type

Deciduous

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Pignut hickory

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Beeches, walnuts, and allied trees

Family

Walnut

Genus

Hickories

Species

Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)

Learn More About the Pignut hickory

Distribution Map of Pignut hickory

Pignut hickory is native to most of the eastern half of the United States, except the far northeast, and Quebec. It prefers dry hillsides and ridges but can also tolerate moderately moist soil. Pignut hickory has been introduced in Germany and the South Caucasus.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Pignut hickory

A Comprehensive Guide to Pignut hickory How to Grow and Care for Pignut hickory