Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata · Deciduous Hardwood
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Tree Category
Nut and Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type (wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.
About This Tree
A large, stately deciduous tree featuring a straight trunk, an upright to oval crown, and distinctive peeling plates of bark. It has a moderate growth rate, strong wood, and develops a deep taproot system.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound leaves typically 8 to 14 inches long with usually 5 (sometimes 7) leaflets. Leaflets are oblong-lanceolate, sharply serrated along the margins, dark green above and paler beneath, turning golden-bronze in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and gray on young trees, developing distinctive long, vertical plates or strips that peel away from the trunk at the ends, giving a shaggy appearance as the tree ages.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada down to Florida and west to Texas.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring after most danger of frost has passed, produces flowers in spring, bears nuts that mature and drop in autumn, and drops leaves to enter dormancy by late autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun for optimal growth, though it tolerates partial shade when young. Requires moderate, consistent watering during establishment, but exhibits good drought tolerance once mature.
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 60 to 80 feet with a spread of 40 to 50 feet. Grows at a slow to moderate rate with a lifespan that can exceed 200 to 300 years.
Special Characteristics
Known for producing delicious, edible nuts, exceptionally hard and heavy timber with great shock resistance, striking shaggy bark, and brilliant golden-brown autumn foliage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Supports numerous wildlife species including squirrels, chipmunks, and various birds that consume the nutrient-rich nuts. Also serves as a host plant for several moth caterpillars and provides roosting habitat for bats beneath its peeling bark.