Carya myristiciformis aka Nutmeg Hickory

Carya myristiciformis, or nutmeg hickory, belongs to the walnut family. This large tree sheds its leaves each fall. It grows in scattered sites across the southern United States. Its range extends from northeastern Mexico to North Carolina. Wild trees grow beside rivers and swamps in rich soil. Some grow on higher land, often over limestone. The name refers to seeds that look like nutmeg.

The tree has a straight trunk and a dense crown. Mature trees can reach about 100 feet (30.5 metres). Growth is slow, with 30 feet (9.1 metres) possible after 20 years. Young trees have smooth, gray bark. Older bark darkens and forms rough, scaly ridges. These ridges make a diamond pattern along the trunk. Brown or bronze twigs carry many small scales. The alternate leaves are pinnate, with toothed leaflets. Sources report five to eleven leaflets on each leaf. Scales beneath the leaves shift from silver-gold to bronze. The leaves turn yellow before they fall.

Flowers open in spring, with both sexes on one tree. Male flowers hang in slender, yellow-green catkins. Small groups of female flowers grow at shoot tips. Thick husks enclose the nuts and split along four ridges. Sources place nut ripening from early to late fall. The striped shell gives the nut its nutmeg-like look. The sweet seeds are edible, either raw or cooked. Their thick shells make them harder to open. Seeds kept cool in their shells last at least six months. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. It also lists no known medicinal uses.

Grow this tree in full sun rather than shade. It favors rich, moist soil but can withstand drought. Suitable soils include sand, loam, clay, and rocky ground. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. A deep loam that holds moisture suits it well. A sheltered site and warm summer aid its growth. NC State lists USDA zones 7 through 9. Plants For A Future notes a tree growing outdoors at Kew. Its deep taproot makes a permanent planting site important.

Nutmeg hickory provides shade in woodlands and native plant gardens. Squirrels and other rodents eat its nuts. Its leaves feed luna moth and hickory horndevil larvae. The hard, strong wood also serves as fuel. Fallen leaves and nuts can make a mess. NC State reports no major pest or disease problems. Watch for forest tent caterpillars, walnut caterpillars, and walkingsticks.