Bitternut (Carya cordiformis)

Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) is a tree that can grow higher than 15m tall and wider than 8 metres wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Bitternut (Carya cordiformis).

This plant has several common names including: bitternut, bitternut hickory, North American bitternut, swamp hickory or white hickory.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: bitternut, bitternut hickory, North American bitternut, swamp hickory, white hickory
Scientific name: Carya cordiformis
Plant type: Trees
Habit: Spreading / Branched
Height: Higher than 15m
Spread: Wider than 8 metres
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Planting type: Low Maintenance

Seasonal colors

How to plant Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) – AnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trees are essential plants in gardens, large and small, with their sculptural presence.

In terms of design, they add height, structure and interest all year round with attractive flowers, foliage, fruits and trunks.

In addition, they provide home and a food source for birds and other wildlife.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Bitternut (Carya cordiformis), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Carya cordiformis likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.

Sunlight

Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) – No machine-readable author provided. MPF assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons