Sand hickory is a large deciduous tree in the Juglandaceae (walnut) family growing slowly to 100 feet at maturity. It is native to the southeastern United States and often found in dry, sandy, or gravelly soils as the common name suggests. It can be found throughout North Carolina, especially the Sandhills region of the coastal plain. This tree has a straight trunk and a dense crown. The flowers are both male and female; male catkins, 3 to 4 inches long, and female flowers of similar size bloom in early spring season from March to May and range in color from yellow to green to brown. The Sand hickory nut is oval, dark-brown, and typically consumed by rodents, squirrels, and large birds. Sand hickory prefers moist loam in a sunny sheltered position. This plant has a significant tap root and is difficult to transplant; it should be planted in its permanent position. These trees are relatively late coming into leaf and lose their leaves early in the autumn, but while the leaves are present, the trees cast a heavy shade making them suitable for planting as a shade tree or in a mixed woodland setting. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Host plant of Microstroma juglandis a pathogen which can cause the fungal disease Downy Leaf Spot.
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)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
24-60 feet; more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Fragrant
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Alternate, pinnately compound with 5 to 9 serrated, lance to ovate leaflets. Underside is pale, with silvery scales and pubesent. The leaves are spicily fragrant, similar to other tetraploid hickories of Carya.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Moneceious male flowers catkins, female flowers in clusters at the tips of branches, appear in early to mid-spring. Stalks hirsute, scaly, bracts scaly, hirsute at apex; anthers hirsute.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Pear-shaped to round nut 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide, yellow when young, dark brown when mature in early fall. Rather thin-shelled, the seed is small and sweet and ripens in late autumn. When stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months.
Bark color
Dark Gray
Bark detail
Smooth gray bark when young, forming deep furrows and scaly ridges with a diamond shape at maturity.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Red brown to dark brown with light lenticles, stout branches but more slender than other hickories. Buds are oval shaped with silvery scales and hairs. Leaf scars are three lobed. Terminal buds reddish brown, sparsely to densely scaly; outer bud scales with coarse hairs on midribs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
Central and Southwestern United States, Southern Illinois to Oklahoma and Texas.
Wildlife value
The fruit is eaten by birds and squirrels.
Attracts
Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Seeds
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
The seed can be eaten, raw or cooked, and has a sweet flavor.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The wood is heavy, hard, and tough and has been used for tool handles.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Edible Garden; Native Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree
Garden tags
#native tree #NC native #deciduous tree #large tree #edible #shade tree #slow growing #wildlife friendly