Carya tomentosa
Object Details
- Description
- The most common hickory across its range, the mockernut hickory likely takes its common name from the pitiful amount of fruit it has inside such a thick shell. The Latin name of this tree refers to the fuzzy undersides of its leaves.
- Hardiness
- -30 - 30 F
- Attracts
- Larval host for luna moth (Actias luna), funerary dagger moth (Acronicta funeralis), giant regal moth (Citheronia regalis).
- Bloom Time
- April to May
- Ethnobotanical Uses
- Strong wood has been used to make tool handles, fence posts, and arrow shafts. Cherokee have used inner bark to make baskets and dress cuts.
- Medicinal / Pharmaceutical
- The Cherokee have used the inner bark of this tree to make a tea to treat colds and other conditions.
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Range
- S Ontario to C and E USA
- Habitat
- Hillsides, ridges; 0-2950ft (0-900m)
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2019-0227A
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Common Name
- Mockernut Hickory
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Rosanae
- Order
- Fagales
- Family
- Juglandaceae
- Genus
- Carya
- Species
- tomentosa
- Life Form
- Deciduous tree
- Bark Characteristics
- Grey bark develops ridges and furrows as it matures.
- Bloom Characteristics
- Green catkins. Male flowers droop and are up to 6" (15.25 cm) long. Female flowers grow in clusters of short spikes.
- Fall Color
- Yellow
- Foliage Characteristics
- Compound leaf is made up of 5-7 leaflets. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, serrated, green, and hairy underneath. Leaves are 6-12" (15.25-30.5 cm) long, leaflets are 3-6" (7.6-15.25 cm) long.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Round nut is surrounded by a brown husk which splits into four parts when mature in fall. Edible to humans, but small and difficult to remove from husk.
- Plant Size
- 60-80' tall x 40-60' wide (18.3-24.4 x 12.2-18.3 m)
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2019-0227A