Carya pallida aka Sand Hickory

Carya pallida, also known as sand hickory or pale hickory, is a deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States and belongs to the Carya genus. It prefers rocky or sandy habitats and can reach heights of up to 30m, though its typical height is between 9-24m. The tree has a towering and slim crown in open areas. Its bark changes appearance at maturity, with young trees having even light-gray or brown bark, while older specimens have deep squamous ridges and dark-gray bark. Carya pallida leaves are compound and alternate, with groups of 5 to 9 leaflets, though 7 is most typical. The rachis and midrib are hirsute with tattered, soft hairs, and the abaxial side is covered in scales ranging from silvery-blue to silvery-yellow. The sand hickory nut is edible and oval with a sweet-tasting kernel, and it is consumed by various organisms such as rodents, squirrels, and large birds. Male catkins and female flowers grow on each plant, making it monoecious, and pollination occurs by wind dispersal. Blooming occurs during the spring season from March to May, and flowers range from yellow to green to brown. Characteristic of hickory, C. pallida wood is thick, durable, and shock absorbent. Its twigs are slimmer compared to other hickories, and emerging buds are protected by mahogany bud scales. Loss of new trees is common, so extra care must be taken. The sand hickory has the potential to be a fitting shade or specimen tree. Sand hickory is suitable for light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils with an acidic, neutral, or basic (alkaline) pH. It cannot grow in the shade and prefers moist soil. In its natural habitat, it is hardy to zone (UK) 6, and it is in leaf from June to October, in flower from April to May. The species is self-fertile and prefers direct light, making it a good shade or specimen tree. Note that sand hickory is not a houseplant and is super rare, and it does not require added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.