Sand hickory, Pale leaf hickory
Carya pallida

Family: Juglandaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 24 m high. The trunk is 30-60 cm across. The bark is smooth and has deep grooves. The leaves are compound and 18-38 cm long. The leaves have 7-9 leaflets along the stalk. They are light green above and have silver-grey scales underneath. The flowers are very small and greenish. The male flowers are in slender drooping catkins. There are 3 flowers hanging from one stalk. The female flowers occur singly at the tip of the same twig. The fruit is oval and 30 mm long. It splits at the base when ripe. The seed is edible.

There are about 14-25 Carya species.

Where it is found

It grows on dry sandy and rocky soils. It grows to 760 m altitude in the USA. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Britain, Europe, North America, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Hicoria pallida;