Black Hickory (Carya texana)

Family: Juglandaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Carya texana is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft 3in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from April to May. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet flavour, but the seed is small with a very thick shell. — Seed - raw or cooked.; A sweet flavour, but the seed is small with a very thick shell.; Another report says that the kernel has a bitter flavour.; The seed is up to 4cm long.

Habitat & North American Range

Dry sandy woods or rocky slopes. Bottomlands and low wet woods. Lowland and upland woods, usually on sandy soils but also sometimes on limestone. (Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)