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.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Carya myristiciformis, the nutmeg hickory, a tree of the Juglandaceae or walnut family, also called swamp hickory or bitter water hickory, is found as small, possibly relict populations across the Southern United States and in northern Mexico on rich moist soils of higher bottom lands and stream banks.
Reproduction and early growth
The species is monoecious and forms imperfect flowers. Both male and female flowers are found on the current year’s growth. The male flowers are long-stalked catkins, developing at the shoot base. The female flowers are in short spikes on peduncles at the end of the shoot. Flowering occurs from April to May, shortly after the leaves have started to open. Specifies of pollen production, dissemination and pollination are not known. The sweet, edible nut matures from September to October of the same year and falls between September and December. Its ellipsoidal shell is thick and hard.
Seed production starts when the trees are about 30 years old, and optimum seed-bearing age is 50 to 125 years. Good seed crops are produced every 2 to 3 years. As many as 70 liters (2 bu) can be produced by an open-grown tree. Seeds are disseminated by various methods, including squirrels and water.
The seeds of this species germinate from late April to early June. Germination is hypogeal. Burial of seeds by squirrels seems to be important, but it is not necessary for the successful establishment of seedlings.
Specific information on the vegetative reproduction of nutmeg hickory is not available. Like other hickories, it probably sprouts readily from small stumps, injured or top-killed seedlings and saplings, and from roots. Large stumps do not readily sprout, hence the larger the stump, the more likely that it will reproduce only by root suckers.
Sapling and pole stages to maturity
Nutmeg hickory is a medium-sized tree with a tall, straight trunk and stout, slightly spreading branches that form a narrow and rather open crown. It can attain heights of 24 to 30 m (80 to 100 ft) and a diameter of 61 cm (24 in).
Although the pecan hickories (which include nutmeg hickory) grow more rapidly than the true hickories, specific information on the growth rate of nutmeg hickory is lacking. The pecan hickories, in turn, grow more slowly than most other bottom-land hardwoods. The average 10-year diameter increase for hickories in natural, unmanaged stands in the northeast Louisiana delta was 4.3 cm (1.7 in) in the 15- to 30-cm (6- to 12-in) diameter class; 3.3 cm (1.3 in) in the 33- to 48-cm (13- to 19-in) diameter class; and 3.8 cm (1.5 in) in the 51- to 71-cm (20- to 28-in) diameter class.
Pure stands of nutmeg hickory probably do not exist, and no volume figures are available. Logs and lumber from merchantable nutmeg hickory are sold mixed with other hickories.
Rooting Habit- Nutmeg hickory has a strongly developed taproot, especially on well-drained soil. Seedlings of hickory quickly develop a heavy taproot and fine lateral roots. During the pole stage, a robust, spreading lateral root system is developed.
Nutmeg hickory is classed as intolerant of shade. It is intolerant as a mature tree, but tolerant in the seedling and sapling stage during which it may survive for a long time in the understory and then respond to release. Any partial cutting system that removes larger, faster-growing competition encourages nutmeg hickory.
Fire damages hickory of all ages. A light burn kills the tops of seedlings and saplings; a more intense fire wounds larger trees and provides entry for butt-rotting fungi.
Several insects attack hickory but rarely become epidemic. The forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), walnut caterpillar (Datana integerrima), and walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata) may defoliate individual trees or limbs. Sucking insects, including aphids (Monellia spp.), feed on the underside of leaves, causing them to curl and drop prematurely. The twig girdler (Oncideres cingulata) may seriously prune seedlings and even large trees by girdling the terminal and branches. The hickory bark beetle (Scolytus quadrispinosus) can be troublesome during dry years and periods of stress.
The ambrosia beetle (Platypus spp. and Xyleborus spp.) and powderpost beetles (Lyctus spp. and Xylobiops basilaris) often cause economic damage to logs and lumber during storage and air-drying.
No important diseases of hickory other than a number of wood rots have been reported. Bird peck defect, caused by the yellow-bellied sapsucker, is common and serious in nutmeg hickory.
II. How to Grow and Care
Nutmeg hickory requires specific conditions to thrive, similar to many other members of the hickory family. It necessitates well-draining soil and does best with full sun to partial shade. Notably, nutmeg hickory demands consistent moisture and struggles in drought conditions, making regular watering a critical aspect of its care. Additionally, managing pests and diseases typical to hickories can be challenging, indicating a higher level of difficulty in its maintenance.
Sunlight
Nutmeg 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, nutmeg 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 nutmeg 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 nutmeg hickory loves moist, it is somehow drought-tolerant and cannot stand waterlogging.
Watering
Originating from the understory of moist forests, nutmeg hickory thrives in environments with consistent moisture. This species exhibits a preference for regular hydration but can tolerate short periods of dryness. Watering every week maintains its lush foliage and supports its growth needs. As an outdoor plant, nutmeg hickory benefits significantly from natural rainfall patterns, which complement its watering schedule. During the growing season, ensuring adequate water is crucial for nutmeg hickory’s development and health.c
Soil
Nutmeg 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 nutmeg hickory planting with either seeds or saplings. However, as nutmeg 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 nutmeg 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 nutmeg hickory in your garden or orchard.
Pruning
Generally, pruning is not a necessity of nutmeg 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
Nutmeg hickory is a hardwood species renowned for its edible seeds and ornamental worth. To reproduce nutmeg hickory, semi-hardwood cuttings are preferable. Start by selecting healthy, disease-free limbs. Cuttings should be 4-6 inches long with multiple leaf nodes. Remove leaves from the lower half to reduce moisture loss and dip the cut end in rooting hormone for optimal root development. Plant them in a well-draining growth medium kept consistently moist. Rooting usually takes several weeks, after which the new plants should be acclimatized before transplantation into their permanent location.
Transplanting
Transplant nutmeg hickory during the gentle warmth of late spring to early summer when root establishment is optimal. Select a well-drained spot with adequate sun. Remember, gentle handling leads to thriving nutmeg hickory.
III. Uses and Benefits
The nuts of nutmeg hickory are relished by squirrels, which begin cutting them while they are still green. Other rodents and wildlife also eat the nuts. The species is too rare over most of its range to be of major economic importance. The wood of this pecan hickory is slightly inferior in strength and toughness to that of the true or upland hickories, but owing to the small volumes involved and difficulty of distinguishing it from the true hickories, nutmeg hickory is not separated from them during logging.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Notice that only nutmeg 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.