Bitternut Hickory

Common Name: Bitternut Hickory
Species Name: Carya cordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch.
Family Name: Juglandaceae
Plant Type: Trees


Plant Facts
Origin	North America
Duration	Perennial
Distribution in Oklahoma	Eastern half of state and Wichita Mountains
Sun Preference	Intermediate to intolerant of shade
Susceptibility	Fungal diseases like leaf spot

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics

Identified by small bright yellow buds
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 12-inch diameter, 60-foot height
- Leaves: Decidious Broadleaf
- Leaf Type: Pinnately Compound
- Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
- Leaf Shape: Ovate lanceolate
- Stipules: No
Floral Characteristics
- Petals: Not Showy
- Flower Color: Greenish-yellow
- Flower Timing: Early Summer
- Fruit Type: Nut-like


Habitat/Ecology
Habitat	Tolerant of most site conditions, but most often found on poor, dry upland soils
Soil Type	Poor, dry, gravelly upland soils
USDA Cold Hardiness Zone	6 to 8
Successional Stage	Early to mid-successional