Description
Like all hickories, yellowbud has strong wood perfect for making furniture, tools, and especially bows. But unlike other hickories, their nuts aren’t palatable to humans- they contain high amounts of tannins, an anti-nutrient that we taste as bitterness and astringency. But because these tannins are water soluble and not fat soluble, when the oil is extracted the tannins are left behind, resulting in a delicious cooking oil. The nations of the Haudenosaunee traditionally extract this oil by crushing the nuts and boiling them until the oil floats to the top, which they then skim off. Using an oil press also works if you have access to one.
Squirrels love the nuts, tannins and all, and the genus Carya hosts 213 different caterpillar species. Best planted in medium to wet and well-draining soils, they can also tolerate drier conditions but may not produce as well. They want full sun for maximum nut production.
