Water Hickory is a large native deciduous shade tree in the walnut family. It is a major component of wetland forests now in the southeastern US, because of the selective cutting by the lumber industry. It is considered important in cleansing water runoff during flooding. It is very tolerant of wet soils but grows best on well-drained moist soils near rivers and other waterways. It can spread aggressively by both seeds and sprouts from the roots. The spring male and female flowers give way to nuts that are bitter but enjoyed by waterfowl and small mammals. It is slow-growing and generally doesn't produce nuts until after the age of 20 years. It can reach heights of up to 100 feet or more with a narrow irregular crown. Propagate this tree by moist stratification of the seeds. If you have a pond or stream or other moist to wet areas with plenty of space this tree would work well for you. It has good wildlife value. It is a food source for the larvae of moths, including Luna moth ( Actias luna ) , Hickory leafroller moth ( Argyrotaenia juglandana ) , and Royal walnut moth ( Citheronia regalis )
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasional Flooding
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 80 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in. | Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Irregular
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The dark green glossy compound leaves have 7-15 curved lance-shaped serrated leaflets with fine hairs along the midrib and major veins on the undersides.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Male flowers occur in hanging slender yellow-green catkins 2-3 inches long. Female flowers are in short spikes or stalks and are very small and yellow-green.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
The nut is in a fuzzy yellow to brown husk. The 1-1.5 inch nut is oval to egg-shaped and flattened.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Smooth light grey to brown bark that splits into narrow loose shaggy red-tinged scales with age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish-brown twigs with yellowish terminal buds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central to southeastern U.S.A., NC
Distribution
Found in VI south to FL west to TX and OK north to Missouri, IL, ID, and KY
Wildlife value
Bitter nuts are eaten by ducks and other birds. Larval host plant to Luna moths, funeral dagger moths, and giant regal moths. This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed.
Attracts
Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals
Play value
Edible fruit; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Nuts
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Nuts are bitter
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used as firewood.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Pond; Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden; Water Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous tree #native tree #deciduous #NC native #swamps #nuts #moth caterpillar host #larval host plant #small mammals #Braham Arboretum #pond margins #wet soils tolerant #stream banks #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #nighttime garden #hickory horndevil moth #pollinator plant #boggy sites #wildlife friendly #wetland