Water Hickory
Arbor Walk #158, TreeKeeper ID #6073
Native to Missouri’s Bootheel Region, the Mississippi River Valley, and much of the Deep South, the Water Hickory is a tree found in rich, wet soils. Although it, like many other trees, enjoys well-drained landscapes, the logging of other complementary species and the species’ high survivability has led to the Water Hickory becoming prevalent in poorly drained moist soils. Containing many of the same wonderful traits as other hickories, the Water Hickory serves as a wonderful alternative in bottomland ecosystems.
| Common Name(s) | Water Hickory |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Carya aquatica |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
Map coming soon
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
Leaf Identification
The leaves of the Water Hickory are compound and odd-pinnate, with 7-15 leaflets. The leaflets are curved elliptic or lanceolate and a glossy green color, with a pale yellow-green underside. The leaflets are subtly serrated, and the midribs are finely pubescent.
Twig and Bud Identification
The twig begins yellowish, maturing to a reddish brown with white lenticels. The twig is straight, with axillary buds slightly offset from the node. These buds are ovoid, yellow-brown, and relatively small.
Bark Identification
The bark of the Water Hickory is gray-brown with scales of variable shape and length. The scales do not intensely exfoliate, though they can become somewhat shaggy when more mature.
Fruit Identification
The fruit is a large nut, one to two inches and ovoid, with a four-sided pubescent shell that turns from light green to brown with ripening.
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Water Hickory are dioecious and generally inconspicuous. The male flowers are hanging green catkins (long, slender clusters of flowers) that only reach a few inches long, and the female flowers are also green and located in small clusters near to the branch.
ID Key Tips
- When compared to the Pecan, the Water Hickory has smaller, flattened nuts, scalier bark, and can tolerate much wetter, waterlogged conditions.
- The Pecan and Water Hickory can hybridize in the wild, so be careful when identifying these species.
