Wood Species Guide
Water Hickory
Carya aquatica
Also called: Bitter Pecan, Swamp Hickory, Pecan Hickory (lumber group), Hickory (in the lumber trade)
What Water Hickory looks like
Reddish brown heartwood with a pale cream sapwood band. Bottomland trees often have dark mineral streaks and some ring shake.
Grain and texture
Usually straight grain with a medium to coarse texture and open pores.
Working Water Hickory: planing, cutting and gluing
Hard and tough, with some blunting of cutters. Shake and internal checks are more common than in upland hickories, so inspect boards. It glues fairly well and holds fasteners firmly once pre-drilled.
Finishing Water Hickory: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes clear finishes well, but stain can be uneven where sapwood meets heartwood. Seal the open pores and any checks before epoxy.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not decay resistant, and beetles go after the sapwood. It moves a lot with humidity. In Florida, acclimate it longer than usual and finish all sides.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Water hickory grows in river swamps of north and central Florida and is usually sold as pecan or hickory. It is a little weaker than the true hickories but still a tough, handsome wood for floors, cabinets and rustic tabletops. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source hickory and pecan.
Common uses for Water Hickory
Flooring, cabinets, furniture, pallets, smoking wood, firewood and general utility lumber.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Common in Southern bottomland forests and not threatened.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. Nothing is documented beyond normal wood dust irritation, but it makes a lot of fine dust.
- In the shop
- Dust collection and a mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Beyond the usual irritation from any fine wood dust, few reactions are reported. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Water Hickory in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Water Hickory listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
Similar woods: Hickories & Pecans
- HickoryIn stockCarya spp. (mainly Carya ovata, C. glabra, C. laciniosa, C. tomentosa) Hickory is the heavyweight of American hardwoods: very hard, extremely tough and full of light and dark color...
- Bitternut HickoryCarya cordiformis Bitternut hickory is a tall, tough member of the pecan hickory group, named for its bitter nuts. Its...
- PecanCarya illinoinensis Pecan is a hickory in everything but name: very hard, shock resistant and handsome in a rugged way....