938-1 Hickory-Bitternut (Packed In Units of 25 Seedlings)

Bitternut Hickory: (Carya cordiformis) is a large deciduous tree native to eastern and midwestern North America, known for its bitter nuts and durable wood. It thrives best in moist soils but can adapt to various conditions, growing to heights of 60 to 90 feet. The tree is valuable not only for its timber and firewood but also for providing habitat for wildlife. Its leaves are rich in calcium, making it beneficial for soil improvement. The tree features a slender trunk and compound leaves with 7 to 11 lance-shaped leaflets that turn an attractive bronzy yellow in the fall. Its bark starts smooth and silvery-gray when young, developing shallow furrows and ridges as it matures. One of its distinctive identification marks is the sulfur-yellow bud scales. Bitternut hickory prefers moist mountain valleys and rich bottomland soils for optimal growth, but can tolerate both damp and drier locations, adapting to a range of soil pH levels. While it can tolerate shade when young, it requires full sun for best growth as an adult. The wood of the Bitternut hickory is hard, strong, and shock-resistant, making it ideal for tools, furniture, and flooring. It also serves as a high-quality firewood, burning hot and providing a source for smoking meats. Additionally, the tree offers habitat for various wildlife, including birds and butterflies, such as the Luna moth. However, most animals generally avoid its nuts due to their very bitter and astringent taste, which is how the tree gets its name. The small, globe-shaped nuts have a thin husk that splits about halfway down and are primarily dispersed by gravity. them due to the taste.