Mockernut Hickory
Carya alba (L.) Nutt. ex Ell. (formerly Carya tomentosa Nutt.)
Also known as White Hickory, Whiteheart Hickory or Big-Bud Hickory.
Mature Size: 50 to 70 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in diameter; occasionally reaches 100 feet in height.
Form: Straight trunk and rounded crown.
Habitat: A variety of well-drained sites; reaches best growth on deep, fertile soils.
Leaves
Alternate, pinnately compound, 8 to 12 inches long with 7 to 9 (rarely 5) thin, sharp-pointed, finely toothed leaflets that are dark green above and hairy orange- brown below; very aromatic when crushed.
Flowers
Yellow-green; males in 3 to 4 inch drooping catkins, with 3 hanging from one stalk; females very small, in clusters of 2 to 5, near twig tips.
Fruit
Oval, with a thick reddish-brown husk that splits almost to the base when ripe; nut very thick-shelled, round to oval, 1½ to 2 inches long, strongly 4-sided, sweet.
Bark
Dark gray to black, deeply furrowed, often appearing interlaced or netted.
Twigs
Thick and hairy; 3-lobed leaf scars resemble a "monkey face;" end bud large and chocolate chip-shaped; dark outer scales fall to reveal a silky, nearly white bud.
Values and Uses
The wood is heavy, hard, tough and strong; it is white except for its comparatively small, dark brown heart. The wood is used for tool handles, skis, baseball bats, furniture, fuelwood, lumber, charcoal and smoking meats. The nuts are a preferred food for wildlife, particularly squirrels, black bears, foxes, rabbits, beavers, white-footed mice and whitetail deer.
Did You Know?
Mockernut hickories may live 500 years.
