Wood: Although not quite as hard or heavy
as the wood of the
shagbark hickory,
bitternut wood is close-grained, tough and shock-resistant. It is used
for tool handles, charcoal and meat smoking. Good quality logs are used
for paneling and veneer, but poorer wood is used for pallets, lumber and
pulp. Settlers used the oil from the nuts to light their lamps and for treating
rheumatism.
Wildlife: The nuts are bitter and unpalatable, and are not eaten by humans and wildlife prefer nuts of other hickories. The tree relies on flooding and gravity to disperse the seeds.
Horticulture: This tree grows faster and has more spectacular fall foliage than other hickory species. It is not often used in landscaping as it is difficult to transplant, slow to establish and there are many other faster-growing native trees available. Mature trees are handsome specimens and should be preserved on development sites.
