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Pignut hickory is a common tree of eastern North America. It is an upland slope species in dry woods, primarily on hillsides and along dry ridges in the North. In the South, it will grow on low ground with other bottomland hardwoods in deep, moist, well-drained soils. It ranges from Ontario to central Florida, and from the east coast to the Mississippi River from southern Michigan to Mississippi. The wood is a valued lumber as are other hickories. It has hard and heavy wood. It is used to manufacture handles for different tools, floorings, cabinets, and veneer for furniture. Historically, the wood was made into wooden wheels because it is dense, has bending qualities, and can withstand compression and shock better than most other woods. Early settlers were able to boil the bark in vinegar to extract a black dye. |
 Twig and leaf |
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The pignut hickory nuts are important in the diets of squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, black bears, foxes, rabbits, birds, smaller rodents, and whitetail deer. Its relatives include the pecan tree (Carya illinoensis) and black walnut (Juglans nigra), two of the most important native nut trees in North America. |
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