Native Hickories of North America
The hickory family (Carya sp.) was one of two dominant species in the oak-hickory forest ecosystem that once dominated much of North America’s eastern woodlands from New York to Texas. Hickory trees are second only to oak trees in their importance as a hard mast producer throughout most of the Eastern United States. In at least one regard, hickories are actually superior to oaks: they produce mast annually (many oak species produce acorns only once every 2-3 years) and produce good mast crops more consistently than oaks. This makes them a very important autumn food source for many wild animals, including whitetail deer, wild turkey, and squirrels.
Some hickory nuts are also favorites of the local two leggers. The best-tasting hickory nuts are considered to be from the Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), the Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa), and the pecan (Carya illinoinensis). The pecan in particular is considered to be a delicacy and is featured in many classic American recipes. The leftover shells are widely used to smoke meat. Other uses for pecan shells include garden mulch and plywood filler.
There are more than 20 hickory species native to North America, including the following:
- Mockernut hickory (Carya alba)
- Water hickory (Carya aquatica)
- Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)
- Scrub hickory (Carya floridana)
- Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
- Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)
- Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa)
- Nutmeg hickory (Carya myristiciformis)
- Red hickory (Carya ovalis)
- Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)
- Sand hickory (Carya pallida)
- Black hickory (Carya texana)
[...] Hickory family (Carya sp.) [...]
[...] Many species make good ornamental plants thanks to their attractive growing habits and spring blossoms. They are typically small understory trees or bushes that combine well in plantings with larger trees such as oaks or hickories. [...]
[...] trees (Juglans sp.) are relatives of the hickory family. Like hickories, they are prized for their delicious and nutritious nuts. Walnuts are also well [...]
[...] pecans and hickory nuts [...]
[...] sp.) is the most important source of hard mast in hardwood forests across North America. With the hickory family (Carya sp.), oaks were the dominant species in the oak-hickory forest, a type of forest cover that [...]
[...] Other hard mast species favored by deer include beech (Fagus sp.), chestnut (Castanea sp.), and hickory (Carya sp.) nuts. Hickories tend to be particularly consistent producers in many regions of North [...]
[...] autumn, hard mast such as acorns, beechnuts, hazelnuts, black walnuts, and hickory nuts are the favored foods of black bears. They supplement these with soft mast such as dogwood berries, [...]
[...] species from the red oak and white oak groups. Other hard mast favored by squirrels include hickories and pecans, walnuts and butternuts, and beechnuts. A good variety of hard mast producing trees and shrubs is [...]
[...] tree layer consists of fruit and nut bearing trees such as chestnuts, walnuts, oaks, apples, and hickories, planted irregularly to intermix patches of sun and shade on the forest floor [...]
[...] Hickory nuts [...]
[...] Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a very large tree of the hickory family, native to the southern and central parts of the United States. Pecan trees are famous for their [...]
[...] you have the space for large mast-producing trees, a few of the best choices include native oaks, hickories, and pecans. Non-native fruit trees such as domestic apples and pears also make great choices for [...]
[...] Hickories and pecans (Carya sp.) [...]
[...] Hickory, Pecan [...]