I would say that the Bitternut Hickory is the second most common hickory species in the Midwest and parts of the Mid-Atlantic after the Shagbark. It is often near watercourses in moist or draining wet soils, but it can also be upland. Its native range is from a little bit of far southeast Canada and southern new England down to just over the northern Florida border to east Texas up to central Minnesota. Like other hickories it is slow growing of about 6 to 9 inches/year and lives about 200 years. It develops a deep taproot, but small trees can be moved B&B in spring. The leaves get to about 9 inches long and usually have 7 leaflets, but can have up to 11. The thin shelled 4-ribbed nut is bitter to eat and it is enclosed by a thin, yellowish husk, about 1 inch long. It is offered for sale by some native plant and specialty nurseries.

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