Herb: Water Hickory


Latin name: Carya aquatica


Synonyms: Hicoria aquatica, Juglans aquatica


Family: Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)



Edible parts of Water Hickory:

Seed - raw or cooked. Astringent. The seed is up to 35mm long, it is produced in clusters of 3 - 4 and has a thin shell, but the kernel is very bitter. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Tree

Height:
20 m
(66 feet)

Flowering:
April
to May

Habitat of the herb:

Bottomlands and swamps, in ground that is often inundated for at least part of the year. The best specimens grow on deep well-drained alluvial soils.

Other uses of Water Hickory:

Wood - heavy and close grained but soft and brittle, which limits its use. It weighs 46lb per cubic foot and is used mainly in fencing and as a fuel, where it yields considerably more heat than most woods.

Propagation of the herb:

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)

Cultivation of Water Hickory:

Bottomlands and swamps, in ground that is often inundated for at least part of the year. The best specimens grow on deep well-drained alluvial soils.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Carya aquatica:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.