The Bitternut Hickory is Canada’s only native pecan hickory. This shade tolerant species is most often found on moist lowlands, or in areas where rich soil is present. 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.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Carya cordiformis, the bitternut hickory, also called bitternut, yellowbud hickory, or swamp hickory, is a large pecan hickory with commercial stands located mostly north of the other pecan hickories. Bitternut hickory is cut and sold in mixture with the true hickories. It is the shortest-lived of the hickories, living to about 200 years.
It is a large deciduous tree, growing up to 35 m (115 ft) tall (exceptionally to 47 m or 154 ft), with a trunk up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) diameter. The leaves are 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long, pinnate, with 7–11 leaflets, each leaflet lanceolate, 7–13 cm (2+3⁄4–5 in) long, with the apical leaflets the largest but only slightly so. The flowers are small wind-pollinated catkins, produced in spring. The fruit is a very bitter nut, 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) long with a green four-valved cover which splits off at maturity in the fall, and a hard, bony shell. Another identifying characteristic is its bright sulfur-yellow winter bud.
It is closely related to the pecan, sharing similar leaf shape and being classified in the same section of the genus Carya sect. Apocarya, but unlike the pecan, it does not have edible nuts. It is most readily distinguished from the pecan by the smaller number of leaflets, with many leaves having only 7 leaflets (rarely fewer than 9, and often 11–13, in the pecan). Hybrids with the pecan are known, and named Carya × brownii. A hybrid between the shagbark hickory (C. ovata) is also recognized, and is known as Laney’s hickory (Carya ×laneyi).
Bitternut hickory grows in moist mountain valleys along streambanks and in swamps. Although it is usually found on wet bottom lands, it grows on dry sites and also grows well on poor soils low in nutrients. The species is not included as a titled species in the Society of American Foresters forest cover types because it does not grow in sufficient numbers.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Bitternut hickory plants are adaptable to grow in partial shade to full sun. However, it grows the best with full sunlight which means at least 8 hours of sunshine should be received.
Temperature
Native to North US, China and the rest of Asia, bitternut hickory grows in an annual temperature ranging between 4 to 18 ℃, with 27 ℃ in summer and -15 ℃ in winter. Extreme temperatures observed range from 46 ℃ to -40 ℃. Throughout the distribution of bitternut hickory, the mean annual rainfall ranges from 64 to 127 cm. During its peak growing season, rainfall ranges between 51 to 102 cm. Although it seems bitternut hickory loves moist, it is somehow drought-tolerant and cannot stand waterlogging.
Watering
Keep regularly watering the newly planted plants after your first watering while transplanting. Once established, bitternut hickory is drought tolerant, however, it is necessary to provide them 2.5 cm of water per week under dry and high-temperature conditions.
Soil
Bitternut hickory can grow on a variety of soil conditions including moist sandy, loamy and clay soils, from moderately acidic to alkaline. But they perform superbly in moist, rich, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.1-7.3), silty loam that is well-drained.
Fertilizing
While transplanting, an application of slow-release fertilizer is recommended to enhance root establishment and favor early growth. Fertilizer for the established plants may be calculated on the basis of their truck diameter, you should follow the guide or manual of your fertilizer. Only notice that when you measure the trunk diameter, measure at a height of 1.3 m. Spread fertilizers evenly under the canopy once or twice a year in early spring and/or fall.
Planting Instructions
You can start your bitternut hickory planting with either seeds or saplings. However, as bitternut hickory is a medium- to slow-growing tree, it is recommended to plant saplings bought from a nearby nursery or gardening store. The excellent growth of bitternut hickory is observed on raised beds with adequate moisture. You can make raised beds that fit the size of the root ball of the saplings for transplanting.
Prepare beds by digging deep earth up, loosening and mixing with the garden soil at a sunny location. Multiple trees should be spaced 6 to 7 m between the rows if grown in the orchards or as open field cultivation. What you should know is, none of the Carya species are suitable for containers due to their deep, straight root system. You can only grow bitternut hickory in your garden or orchard.
Pruning
Generally, pruning is not a necessity of bitternut hickory but light pruning throughout the year can improve the light reception of inner foliage. Trimming is favored for the newly grown plants as well, which promotes growth. Don’t mess the main truck, just remove weak, broken and dead twigs on the secondary branches when noticed.
Propagation
If you want to propagate bitternut hickory yourself, collect nuts on maturity in fall when they begin to fall. Soak the seeds (nuts with the hard outer shell) in water for 2-4 days to adapt to stratification. They need 3-4 months of cold stratification (at 1 to 4 ℃) to break dormancy priorly. Then the seeds can be planted directly into the garden in fall, or one seed per deep pot, from 2.5 to 4 cm deep in the soil. Shelter a 5 to 8 cm layer of straw to protect garden ones from frosting effects. After sprouting, keep them fully shined and soil moist but not over-watered for 6-8 weeks to develop an extensive root system for further transplants when needed.
Overwintering
In harsh winter, mulch to save plants from frost bites. Mulch can also prevent bitternut hickory from competing with weeds.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
Bitternut hickory is a low-maintenance tree that can be used to add a wealth of color during the early autumn in parks, meadows, and large gardens. This tree doesn’t require routine pruning and is prized for attracting butterflies and birds while having few disease or pest issues.
- Other uses
Bitternut is used for lumber and pulpwood. Because bitternut hickory wood is hard and durable, it is used for furniture, paneling, dowels, tool handles and ladders. Like other hickories, the wood is used for smoking meat, and by Native Americans for making bows. Bitternut hickory seeds are eaten by rabbits, and both its seeds and bark are eaten by other wildlife.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Notice that only bitternut hickory trees older than 10 years start producing nuts. Harvest in fall when the brown, readily ripe nuts drop down on the ground. If the ripe nuts still stay on the tree, a gentle shake can promote free falls onto the ground. Pick the nuts from the ground before rodents and birds, remove the remaining husks and store the nuts with the outer shell where cool and dry if you are not eating them immediately. You can also crack the outer shell and store the meat of the nut by refrigerating or freezing.
Find Where to Buy the Best Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)
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