Carya floridana aka Scrub Hickory

Carya floridana, or scrub hickory, is a deciduous tree. It belongs to the walnut family, Juglandaceae. Its native range lies within Florida, chiefly central and southern areas. It grows in scrub on coastal dunes and dry, sandy ridges. These sites help explain its ability to grow in dry soil. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Its hardiness in Britain remains uncertain in the supplied account.

Plants For A Future gives a height of 66 feet [20 metres]. The evidence does not give a separate garden height range. Nor does it give a mature crown width. The tree carries leaves from June to October, according to that source. Its entry suggests a place in the canopy of woodland gardens. Gardeners should weigh that use against its need for light. The species account says it cannot grow in shade.

Flowers appear from April to May. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. Wind moves the pollen, and the species can set seed itself. The edible part is the seed inside its thick shell. The kernel tastes sweet, though the shell makes access harder. Seeds reach about 1.2 inches long and ripen in late autumn. Seeds kept cool within their shells can last at least six months. This gives the crop some value beyond the harvest season.

The species account lists sandy, loamy, and clay soils as suitable. It also calls for soil that drains well. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. Both dry and moist soil can suit it. The cultivation notes specifically describe its adaptation to dry sites. However, much of that section gives general advice for the genus. That advice does not establish this species' growth rate or winter limits.

The propagation notes call for a period of cold stratification. They suggest sowing fresh seed in a cold frame. Stored seed should stay moist rather than wet before sowing. Deep pots allow room for the developing taproot. The notes favour moving young plants to their final site early. No medicinal use is recorded in the supplied account. It lists fuel as a possible use for the wood. It reports no known hazards, but offers no detailed safety assessment.