Scrub Hickory
Carya floridana
Last reviewed: September 2026
Carya floridana is a small deciduous hickory found in Florida's scrub and sandhill habitats. It tolerates full sun and dry, well-drained sandy soil with low supplemental water.
Toxicity unknown
Scrub Hickory (Carya floridana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
240"–600" H × 144"–300" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
FL
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Scrub hickory is a medium-sized native tree that grows 20-50 feet tall with an open, irregular canopy. This drought-tolerant species thrives in sandy soils and requires minimal watering once established. It produces edible nuts and attractive fall foliage before dropping its leaves in winter.
Growing Scrub Hickory
Grow Scrub Hickory in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 240 to 600 inches tall and spread 144 to 300 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Scrub Hickory is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- Irregular growth habit may appear unkempt
- Leaf and nut drop creates seasonal mess
- Slower establishment compared to conventional landscape trees
Wildlife value
The tree supports various wildlife species by providing nuts for squirrels, birds, and other small mammals. Its foliage hosts several butterfly and moth caterpillars while the flowers attract small pollinators.
Common questions
- When does Scrub Hickory bloom?
- Carya floridana produces small, inconspicuous catkins in early spring, generally before its compound leaves fully expand.
- Does Scrub Hickory need pollinators to produce nuts?
- No specific pollinator is required. Like other hickories, Scrub Hickory is wind pollinated, with separate male and female catkins on the same tree.
- How much water does Scrub Hickory need once established?
- Once established, Scrub Hickory tolerates low water availability and grows well in the dry, well-drained sandy soils typical of scrub and sandhill sites.
- Is Scrub Hickory deciduous or evergreen?
- Scrub Hickory is deciduous. It drops its compound leaves each fall like other members of the Carya genus.
- Is Scrub Hickory HOA-friendly?
- Scrub Hickory is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate 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 Scrub Hickory? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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