Producer of delicious edible nuts with a sweet buttery flavour.

Native to Mexico and to central and southern USA. Uncommon in Britain and Ireland, but grows reasonably in warmer areas to south, and well-suited to Italy, southern France and Spain.

Monoecious.

Tall where native (40m), only 25m where introduced, with a broad crown on slender branches. Bark grey-brown, ridged, with exfoliating plates. Twigs red-brown, variously downy. Leaves pinnate compound, 30-60cm, with 9-15 slender serrated leaflets, the lower ones aerofoil-curved, downy beneath. Fruit a four-valved drupe separated by winged sutures, containing the well-known nut.

Grafted trees used for commercial production in USA. Rarely produces nuts in Britain and Ireland. Quite prone to wind damage. Choose warm, sheltered sites with fertile soils.

Low where introduced.

Generally healthy.

An attractive specimen tree. Foliage is briefly vibrant yellow in autumn. Timber lower quality than other hickories.