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Nutmeg hickory

Carya myristiciformis

Nutmeg hickory
Photo: Elbert L. Little, Jr., of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and others, Public domain

Nutmeg hickory is a native tree of the southern United States and northern Mexico, found on moist, rich bottomland and stream banks. It is grown mainly for its wildlife-valued nuts and timber, and is best given deep, moist soil and full sun.

Family
Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
Grows as
Tree
Light
Full sun
Water
Keep soil consistently moist, especially when young, and water during dry spells.
Soil
Deep, rich, moist loam; tolerates wet bottomland soils.
Temperature
Hardy in temperate climates; protect young trees from severe cold and late frosts.
How easy
Moderate
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
Oklahoma to Alabama and NE. Mexico
Climate
temperate

About

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. Little is known of the growth rate of nutmeg hickory. Logs and lumber are sold mixed with other hickories. The nuts are an oil-rich food for wildlife.

Other Carya plants

Water hickory · Pignut hickory · Pecan · Shellbark hickory · Red hickory · Shagbark hickory · Sand hickory · Black hickory · Mockernut hickory · Hickory

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Carya myristiciformis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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