Plant Details

Carya glaba

Sweet Pignut, Pignut hickory

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Carya glaba.

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Common names

5 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Pignut hickory
  • Sweet Pignut
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Gladbladerige bitternoot
  • Kale hickorynoot
French
  • Caryer glabre
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Carya glaba
Accepted name (Kew): Carya glabra View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Juglandaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Carya (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet Pignut, Pignut hickory

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 30.00 m
Spread: 20.00 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-9
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Sap, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Wood

Description

Seeds from this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. The quality of the seeds varies greatly; some are sweet and pleasant, while others can be bitter and astringent. Generally, the seeds of this plant are of lesser quality compared to other hickories. They are relatively small, have a thick shell, and contain little edible content. The seeds ripen in late autumn and can be stored for at least 6 months in the shell in a cool place. The sap of this plant can be tapped in the spring and is used as a refreshing drink with a sweet taste.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 30/11

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet, name ID 2701775, row 1337668
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 756174; name ID 2701738; Carya Nutt.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.