bitternut hickory

plant

Also known as: Carya cordiformis

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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The bitternut hickory, scientifically known as Carya cordiformis, is a species of hickory tree native to eastern North America. It is characterized by a slender trunk, rough bark, and leaves with seven to nine leaflets. This tree produces a thin-shelled nut that is notably bitter, making it inedible due to the presence of tannin in the kernel's skin.12

Other names for the bitternut hickory include bitter hickory, bitter pignut, and swamp hickory. A closely related species, the water hickory (Carya aquatica), is found in the southern U.S. and also yields bitter nuts. While some hickory species, like the pecan, are cultivated for their edible nuts and valuable wood, the bitternut hickory's primary significance lies in its botanical classification within the walnut family.132

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hickory
Major species
The nuts of the bitternut hickory (C. cordiformis) and the water hickory (C. aquatica) are bitter-tasting and inedible, because the skin covering the kernels contains tannin. The nuts of most other species are edible but are too small to be commercially important.
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The nuts of the bitternut hickory (C. cordiformis) and the water hickory (C. aquatica) are bitter-tasting and inedible, because the skin covering the kernels contains tannin. The nuts of most other species are edible but are too small to be commercially important.
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