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Overstory

Hickory

Carya spp.

Tree with edible nuts. Excellent native nut tree; very drought-tolerant once established

NativeEdiblePollinator
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun
WaterLow water
System layerOverstory
Plant typeTree
Plant spacing50-80 ft
Mature size50-80 ft / 30-40 ft
Chill hours500-1000
Soil pH5.5-7.0
HarvestSep–Oct
Expected yield20-60 lbs
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Excellent native nut tree; very drought-tolerant once established

Disease resistance

Excellent pest/disease resistance

Pruning

Minimal pruning when young; leave mature trees alone

Care

Slow to produce (8-15 years) but extremely long-lived and productive

Drought tolerance

High once established

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationCross-pollinate (wind)
Compatible partnersShellbark + Shagbark
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Shellbark (C. laciniosa)Shagbark (C. ovata)Hican hybrids

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible; Attractor

Edible parts

Nuts

Companion plants

Native understory, Comfrey

Community / companion role

Pollination: Cross-pollinate (wind); Compatible partners/pollinators: Shellbark + Shagbark; Companions: Native understory, Comfrey

Food-forest layer

Canopy

Oklahoma classification

Secondary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 5.5-7.0

KNF / fertility schedule

Minimal

Maintenance

Minimal pruning when young; leave mature trees alone

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.