Practical
Plants

Carya cathayensis

Chinese Hickory

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Carya genus in the family Juglandaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Carya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
18 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked[8][9][2][3]. Rich in oil[7]. it has a sweet flavour and is highly esteemed by the Chinese[4]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[K]. An edible oil from the seed is used in cooking[3].

Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - hard, tough, elastic. Used for tool handles etc[8][9][3]. A very good fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat.

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - E. China.
Habitat
Narrow moist valleys and the foot of mountains[3]. Forests on mountain slopes, valleys, and riverbanks at elevations of 400 - 1500 metres[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[11]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[11]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter[78, K]. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[5] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[1][10][4][5]. Slow growing[5]. Dislikes wind exposure[3]. Plants are intolerant of much frost[3]. Another report says that plants succeeds in climatic zone 6, which suggests that they should tolerate temperatures down to about -15 and -20°c[5]. Cultivated for fod in China[7], the edible seed is often sold in local markets in China[4]. Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1][4]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[1][5]. Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[4]. During this time they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5]. Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to this country, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[4]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[4]. Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  4. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  10. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

    ↩

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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