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Water Hickory

Carya aquatica

Water hickory is a tall bottomland hickory of Southern swamps and river floodplains, tolerant of prolonged flooding. Its bitter nuts feed wood ducks and mammals where few other hickories grow.

Family
Juglandaceae
Type
tree
Lifespan
perennial
Height
60–90 ft
Spacing
30–50 ft apart
Light
sun
Soil moisture
wet, moist
Soil pH
acidic, neutral
Bloom
April, May
Bloom colors
yellow, green, brown
Wildlife value
songbirds, larval host, mammals
Caterpillar hosts
~235 butterfly & moth species
Landscape uses
specimen, rain garden
Native states
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TX