Ontario's Tree Atlas: Bitternut Hickory (Carya Cordiformis)

Leaf
Photo by: Daniel Tigner,
Canadian Forest Tree Essences
Bark
Photo by: Daniel Tigner,
Canadian Forest Tree Essences
Fruit
Photo by: Daniel Tigner,
Canadian Forest Tree Essences
Tree
Photo by: Daniel Tigner,
Canadian Forest Tree Essences

Did you know?
Wood from the bitternut hickory is strong and tough and is used to make handles for tools and for sports equipment like lacrosse sticks. 

The bitternut hickory is found in southern Ontario.  It grows best on low, moist ground or in rich soil in higher ground.  It grows well even in shade, so is usually found in groups of other trees.

 

The bitternut hickory is a member of the group of trees called ‘pecan hickories’.  It produces round and bitter inedible nuts that are about 2 to 3.5 centimetres long.  Its dark green leaves are 15 to 25 centimetres long and are made up of 7 to 11 long, pointed leaflets on a central stalk.

 

Size:  15 to 20 metres tall, trunk 30 to 80 centimetres in diameter

Moisture:  Needs a lot of moisture
Shade:  Tolerates partial shade, but prefers full sun
Soil: Prefers rich soil

 

Where you can plant this tree in Ontario:

 

  • Addington Central
  • Belleville Northern
  • Brant Central
  • Brant Northern
  • Brant Southern
  • Bruce Western
  • Chatham Kent Northern
  • Chatham Kent Southern
  • Dufferin Eastern
  • Dufferin Southern
  • Dundas
  • Durham Central
  • Durham Northern
  • Durham Southern
  • Elgin
  • Essex
  • Frontenac Central
  • Frontenac Southern
  • Glengarry
  • Grenville Central
  • Grenville Eastern
  • Grenville Western
  • Haldimand
  • Halton Eastern
  • Halton Northern
  • Halton Southern
  • Halton Western
  • Hamilton Eastern
  • Hamilton Northern
  • Hamilton Southern
  • Hamilton Western
  • Hastings Southern
  • Hastings Southwestern
  • Huron Central
  • Huron Western
  • Kawartha Lakes Central
  • Kawartha Lakes Southern
  • Kingston Western
  • Lambton
  • Leeds Central
  • Leeds Eastern
  • Leeds Western
  • Lennox Central
  • Middlesex Eastern
  • Middlesex Northern
  • Middlesex Western
  • Niagara Northern
  • Niagara Southern
  • Norfolk
  • Northumberland
  • Ottawa Eastern
  • Ottawa Southern
  • Oxford Northern
  • Oxford Southern
  • Peel Central
  • Peel Eastern
  • Peel Western
  • Perth Southern
  • Peterborough Central
  • Peterborough Southern
  • Prescott
  • Quinte West Northern
  • Russell
  • Simcoe Northern
  • Simcoe Southern
  • Stormont
  • Toronto
  • Waterloo Northern
  • Waterloo Southern
  • Wellington Southern
  • York Central
  • York Northern
  • York Southern

Planting tip: Bitternut hickories can be planted in partial shade.  They need a lot of water during the summer, so plant them in damp soil, or collect rainwater to water your tree. More tips...