Bitternut
Carya cordiformis
Last reviewed: September 2026
Carya cordiformis, or bitternut hickory, is a tall deciduous tree that thrives in full sun with medium moisture and blooms in May and June across eastern and midwestern woodlands.
Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Bitternut as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
600"–900" H × 300"–600" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 31 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Bitternut is a large native hickory tree that develops a distinctive oval crown and attractive yellow-bronze fall color. This long-lived shade tree produces small nuts that are bitter to humans but valued by wildlife.
Growing Bitternut
Grow Bitternut in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 600 to 900 inches tall and spread 300 to 600 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Bitternut is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone.
- Drops nuts and small branches seasonally
- Very large mature size may not suit smaller properties
Wildlife value
Host plant for luna moth, banded peacock moth, walnut sphinx moth.
The flowers attract bees and beetles in late spring, while the nuts feed squirrels, chipmunks, and various bird species. The large canopy provides nesting sites and shelter for many wildlife species.
Common questions
- How much water does bitternut hickory need?
- Bitternut hickory does best with medium, consistent moisture but can handle both occasional flooding in bottomlands and drier upland soils once established.
- What light conditions does bitternut hickory prefer?
- This tree grows best in full sun and can also tolerate part sun to part shade, especially as a young tree in a forest understory.
- When does bitternut hickory bloom?
- Bitternut hickory produces its small catkin flowers in May and June, before the leaves fully expand.
- Do pollinators visit bitternut hickory flowers?
- Bees and beetles are known to visit the catkins of bitternut hickory, although the tree also relies heavily on wind for pollen dispersal.
- Is Bitternut toxic to dogs?
- Bitternut is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Bitternut toxic to cats?
- Bitternut is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Bitternut toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bitternut as toxic to livestock.
- Is Bitternut HOA-friendly?
- Bitternut is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Bitternut? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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