Common Name: Nutmeg Hickory

General Information

Carya myristiciformis is a deciduous tree with a narrowm rather open crown; it can grow around 24 - 35 metres tall with a long straight trunk up to 60cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.
Carya myristiciformis is widespread and the population is considered to be large. In Mexico there is risk to the species due to agricultural activity, pressure on habitat and a growing threat from illegal logging and fires. Despite this, in the United States, where the majority of the population resides, the habitat and the species is not under threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern N. America - northeast Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina

Habitat

Banks of rivers and swamps in rich moist soils, occasionally on higher ground, and often on calcareous prairie soils and marl ridges; at elevations up to 500 metres[, , ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Carya myristiciformis is native to the warmer temperate regions of southern N. America. Precipitation within its range varies from 1,020 - 1,400mm per year, of which 510mm or more falls during the growing season. Summers are warm and dry in the western portion of the range, but warm and wet itowards the east. July temperatures average about 27°c, January temperatures are between 7° - 10°c with extremes of temperature ranging from minus 23°c to plus 43°c[]. The frost-free period for most of the native range is about 240 days. Trees are said to only be hardy to zone 9[], but there is a good specimen growing outdoors at Kew which is in zone 7[].
Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[, , , ]. Grows in the wild on a variety of nutrient-rich, moist but well-drained loamy, silty, or clayey soils[]. A slow growing tree[].
Seed production starts when the trees are about 30 years old, and optimum seed-bearing age is 50 - 125 years. Good seed crops are produced every 2 - 3 years[].
Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to specific climates, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[].
Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[]. Large seed crops are produced every 2 - 3 years in the wild[].
Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[, ]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , ]. A sweet flesh, but with a thick shell[, ]. The seed is up to 3cm in diameter[]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Trees are late coming into leaf (usually in late spring to early summer) and they lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[]. Whilst in leaf they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[].

Other Uses

Wood - hard, very strong, tough, close grained[]. The wood of this species is slightly inferior in strength and toughness to that of the true or upland hickories, but owing to the small volumes involved and the difficulty of distinguishing it from the true hickories, this species is not separated from them during logging[].
The wood makes a good fuel, burning well with a lot of heat.

Propagation

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter[, ]. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)