Sand Hickory is tree of dry, sandy soil. Found throughout North Carolina, it is most common in the Coastal Plain, especially the Sandhills region.

The leaves usually have 7-9 leaflets with a scruffily pubescent rachis. The leaves are spicily fragrant, like those of the other tetraploid hickories of section Carya (alba, glabra, and ovalis).

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Leaf undersides are paler, covered with silvery scales.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Fallen staminate catkins. Note the reddish petiole bases, typical for Sand Hickory.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Leaf upperside detail, showing the scruffily pubescent rachis.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Leaf underside detail, showing the tiny silvery scales.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Moore Co., NC 6/6/03.

Moore Co., NC 6/6/03.

The buds are covered with golden-colored glands. Sand Hickory could be confused with Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis), which also has 9 leaflets per leaf and yellowish buds. Bitternut Hickory grows in wet habitats, lacks the silvery scales, and lacks the fragrance. The most similar species is Nutmeg Hickory (Carya myristiciformis), q.v., which grows only in one spot in the state.

Moore Co., NC 6/6/03.