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Bitternut hickory identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Bitternut hickory, Carya cordiformis, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 7 to 10 inches long with 7 to 11 narrow, toothed leaflets. Bark: Tight and hard, smooth silvery gray for years, later with shallow interlacing ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify bitternut hickory
| Leaf type | Alternate, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Compound leaves 7 to 10 inches long with 7 to 11 narrow, toothed leaflets. |
| Bark | Tight and hard, smooth silvery gray for years, later with shallow interlacing ridges. Never shaggy. |
| Fruit | Round, slightly flattened nuts about 1 inch long in a thin husk with four ridges or wings on the upper half. |
| Twigs | Slender for a hickory, with three-lobed leaf scars. |
| Size and shape | Can pass 100 feet with an open, rounded top. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is bitternut hickory native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists bitternut hickory as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like bitternut hickory
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Pignut hickory Carya glabra | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long, usually with 5 toothed leaflets on a smooth stem. |
| Shagbark hickory Carya ovata | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 14 inches long, usually with 5 leaflets; the end leaflet is much bigger than the side ones. |
| Black walnut Juglans nigra | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 12 to 24 inches long with 10 to 24 finely toothed leaflets; the end leaflet is often small or missing. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other hickories in Pennsylvania
Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa), Red hickory (Carya ovalis), Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa).
Questions
How do you identify bitternut hickory?
Look for alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 7 to 10 inches long with 7 to 11 narrow, toothed leaflets. Bark: Tight and hard, smooth silvery gray for years, later with shallow interlacing ridges.
Is bitternut hickory native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists bitternut hickory as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does bitternut hickory get?
Can pass 100 feet with an open, rounded top.
How can you tell bitternut hickory in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Slender for a hickory, with three-lobed leaf scars. Bark: Tight and hard, smooth silvery gray for years, later with shallow interlacing ridges.
What tree looks like bitternut hickory?
Pignut hickory, Shagbark hickory, Black walnut. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Carya cordiformis fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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