A large, slow-growing ornamental shade tree, this species has the largest nuts of any hickory tree, earning it the common name "Kingnut". Flowers are relatively inconspicuous (if only due to their distance from the ground once the tree is mature), consisting of small spikes and drooping tassels of red and green (April-May) which eventually form large, hard-shelled edible nuts which drop from the tree from September through December. Leaves are dark green, compound, and provide good fall color, making this species an excellent shade tree. Tolerant of shade, black walnuts, and occasional flooding. The nuts of this tree provide abundant wildlife food for ducks, wild turkeys, quail, foxes, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, deer, and several species of small woodland mice (and, by extension, woodland raptors, especially owls). Provides nesting habitat for many species of bird, and the bark forms large, loose shingles on the side of the trunk much like Shagbark Hickory, sometimes used for summer roosting by bats. The wood is very strong and flexible, making this a favored species for making wooden tool handles, and the nuts have long been a historically important source of food, especially by Shawnee people and other native tribes. This species has a very large taproot, meaning that these trees are best established when still quite young. They are fairly uncommon throughout their range, although they are reasonably tolerant of a variety of conditions.

Dry To Moist
Sun To Part Shade
60-110 feet tall
Plant Hardiness Zones: 5b-8b
Tree

Native Range: NY south to GA, west to TX, north to IA, IL, and MI. Native to Canada in ON. Rare in NY, PA, MD, NC, SC, GA, MS, and LA.

Kingnut Hickory - 6-12 inch tall in a quart pot $19.25 (Temporarily Sold Out*)

*We normally carry this item but are temporarily sold out. We expect to have it available again as soon as our plants in production reach sufficient size/maturity or we harvest more seed. In some cases, plants may be recovering from caterpillar damage (Monarchs love our Milkweed), wind or hail damage, rampaging woodchucks, downed trees, or other natural issues. We are constantly updating our web site so please check back again.

Review or Finalize Your Order