Other common names
broom hickory, brown hickory, hognut, small-fruited hickory, pignut
Synonyms
Carya porcina
Trees
A very large, slow-growing deciduous tree with an oval-shaped crown and deep root system, also known by its common name of 'pignut hickory'. It can reach a maximum height of around 30m, but is smaller if cultured. Smooth, grey bark in young specimens turns to a textured brown as the tree matures and the pendulous foliage emerges brownish-green, changing to glossy pale green in the summer and then finally golden-yellow in the autumn. Fruits are nut-like and pear-shaped with a brown shell, and only appear on very mature specimens. Although edible, they are very bitter and tend to be favoured more by wildlife
Position
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil Types
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres