Mockernut Hickory, Bullnut, White Hickory, Square nut, White-heart hickory, Bigbud hickory
Carya tomentosa

Family: Juglandaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 30 m tall. The bark is dark grey and has flat ridges and shallow furrows. The tree has a rounded crown. The leaves are compound and 20-50 cm long. The leaves have 9 oblong leaflets They are dark green on the upper surface and downy underneath. The flowers are very small and green. The male flowers are in slender drooping catkins. There are 3 catkins hanging from one stalk. There are 2-5 female flowers at the tip of the same twig. The shell of the fruit is thick. The fruit are round to oval and 35 mm across. The nuts are edible.

There are about 14-25 Carya species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on drier hills in the USA. It grows up to 900 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Germany, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are sweet and eaten.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds, sap

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. It can also be grown by cuttings.

The shells are hard to crack.

Its other names

Local names

Nuez falsa

Synonyms

Carya alba Koch not Nutt.; Juglans tomentosa Poir.; Hicoria alba Britt.;