American Hickory-Pecan

American Hickory-Pecan

Carya spp.

The hickory heartwood is a light to medium brown color. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood. The wood is generally straight-grained with a coarse uniform texture.

Other Names

Pecan Nut, Pecan Hickory, Sweet Pecan, Nogal Morado, and Pecanier.

Distribution

Eastern U.S., principal commercial areas: Central and Southern states. Tree height ranges from 60 to 120 feet. Hickories grow slowly and it is not unusual for a tree to take 200 years to mature.

Availability

Readily available, more limited if sold selected for color as either red or white hickory.

American Hickory-Pecan

Carya spp.

Furniture, doors, flooring, millwork, paneling, brush handles, wooden-ware, bending stock, toys and turnings. It is particularly suitable for food and liquid containers since there is no odor or taste.

American Hickory-Pecan

Carya spp.

Commercially, the pecan is the most important native North American nut tree. Westward trekking pioneers made hickory a prerequisite for their wagon wheels. Later, the Wright Brothers whittled hickory for their “flying contraption.” Hickory sawdust and chips are used to flavor meat by smoking. Pecan was a Native American name given to any nut hard enough to require cracking with a stone. Native Americans, particularly in the Northeast, used hickory for their bows. Hickory Pecan is the state tree of Texas.

American Hickory-Pecan

Carya spp.

Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the U.S., was nicknamed “Old Hickory” because of his toughness during disputes.

American Hickory-Pecan

Carya spp.

The heaviest of American hardwoods, the hickories can be difficult to machine and glue, and are very hard to work with hand tools, so care is needed. They hold nails and screws well, but there is a tendency to split so pre-boring is advised. The wood can be sanded to a good finish. The grain pattern welcomes a full range of medium-to-dark finishes and bleaching treatments. It can be difficult to dry and has high shrinkage.

Janka Rating: 1820