It is endemic to the United States, found primarily in the southern Great Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley.

It has dark gray to black bark with a tight "diamond" patterning.

The leaves usually have a dense coating of scales, imparting a rusty brown color.

The fruits (nuts) are bronze to reddish brown and the seeds can be sweet and edible,[4][5] but are sometimes bitter.

[6] Black hickory is a 64-chromosome species that readily hybridizes with tetraploid C. tomentosa.