Landowner Fact Sheets

pignut hickory Carya glabra play

Pignut hickory is a relatively common species in eastern oak-hickory forests and provides a variety of wildlife with an important portion of their diet.

range map Click to see more images. fall color wood grain

Light
Intermediate in shade tolerance, especially towards the southern parts of its range, pignut hickory can be regenerated by group selection, shelterwood, and clearcut methods. Stumpsprouting is very important for regeneration. Slow growth of seedlings may warrant release from competition with other species.

Water
Pignut hickory may be found in mesic areas, more commonly on drier hillsides and ridges.

Growth

Size
A medium sized to large tree capable of reaching over 100 feet tall, with a rounded crown and a straight trunk.

Timber Value
Pignut hickory is commonly used for furniture, tool handles, sporting goods, agricultural implements, shuttle blocks, mallets, mauls, and fuelwood.

Wildlife Value
The nuts, leaves, flowers, and bark of this species are eaten by various species of wildlife. Nuts represent approximately 10-25% of squirrel diets.
Attracts squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, rabbits, raccoons, turkeys, songbirds, deer, bear

Insects and Diseases

Fun Facts
Pignut hickory is harvested for lumber and the nuts are a staple for wildlife. It is very similar to and is usually not separated from red hickory (Carya ovalis). The kernel of this hickory nut is very high in crude fat content at 70-80%, but often very bitter.

Latin Meaning
Carya: Greek "karya or kaura" (walnut -Juglans regia) / glabra: glabrous (lacking hair)

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Landowner Factsheets © 2004 Virginia Tech Forestry Department, all rights reserved. Text, images, and programming by: Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Dr. John R. Seiler, John A. Peterson, Edward C. Jensen, Guy Phillips, or Andrew S. Meeks.