Bitternut HickoryChristina Jackson, Loren Gallimore, Rave Traylor

Basics• Common name: Bitternut Hickory• Scientific name: Carya cordiformis• Mature size: 50-70 feet tall, 1-1.5 feet in diameter• Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, 7-9

leaflets• Bark: Thin, tight and hard• Wood: Hard, strong and heavy. Used for tool

handles, furniture, paneling, flooring, pallets, crates, fuelwood, pulpwood, lumber, charcoal, and the smoking of meats.

Diamante Poem

treetall green

growing leaning wavingleaves limbs bark buds

life-giving providing livinghealthy young

nature

Interesting Facts• The nuts are bitter, but attract squirrels, rabbits,

beavers, small rodents and mammals.• Leaf litter from bitternut hickory adds calcium to

the soil.• Early settlers used oil extracted from nuts to fuel

oil lamps.• The Bitternut Hickory tree is sometimes also

called the Yellow-Bud Hickory Tree.• This hickory is self-pollinating.

Limiting Factors• Constantly raining debris• Saplings are easily damaged by fire• Some insects severely damage lumber• Birds and insects reduce annual nut production• Frequently falls victim to diseases such as leaf

mildew, witches’ broom, and leaf blotch

Our Experience• “Our tree is young, which is the best thing about

it, and I enjoyed watching the tree grow.” – Loren• “The best thing about our tree is it is still in its

growing stage. I enjoyed spending time with our tree and watching it bud and get more leaves.” – Christina

• “Our tree is still kind of small, which I think is the best thing about our tree. I really liked watching it grow leaves and come to life.” - Rave

Works Cited

"Bitternut Hickory." Bitternut Hickory. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

"Landowner Fact Sheets - Bitternut Hickory." Landowner Fact Sheets - Bitternut Hickory. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Powell, Ellen. Common Native Trees of Virginia: Tree Identification Guide. Charlottesville, VA: Virginia Department of Forestry, 2007. Print.

http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/bitternuthickoryhttp://

education.eol.org/fguides/fieldguide-view.php?guidekey=848&eol_id=594627&sci_flag=0