Black Hickory
Carya texana
Family: Juglandaceae
What it is like
Carya texana is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft 3in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from April to May. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
Dry sandy woods or rocky slopes. Bottomlands and low wet woods. Lowland and upland woods, usually on sandy soils but also sometimes on limestone.
Southern N. America - Texas.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Seed - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour, but the seed is small with a very thick shell. Another report says that the kernel has a bitter flavour. The seed is up to 4cm long. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
Wood - close grained, tough, strong, brittle. It weighs 50lb per cubic foot. Used mainly for fuel, it burns well giving off a lot of heat.
Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development. Slow growing. There is some confusion over the naming of this species, with two separate authors of the name being cited. C. texana. Buckl. is used by some authorities as the correct name and C. buckleyi (q.v.) is given as a synonym of that species. However, other authorities cite C. texana. DC. as the correct name, in this case C. buckleyi remains as a separate species. Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice. Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October). During this time they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to this country, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers. Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place.
Propagating it: Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Canopy;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 5-9
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Synonyms
C. arkansana. C. buckleyi. Durand. C. villosa.