Carya ovata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Carya ovata var. fraxinifolia
- Carya ovata var. nuttallii
- Carya ovata var. pubescens
- Hicoria alba
- Hicoria borealis
- Hicoria ovata
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAIR-yuh oh-VAY-tuh
- Description
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The Shagbark Hickory is a large deciduous tree that is native to eastern and central USA and parts of Canada. It is found in NC mainly in the Piedmont area, but sporadically in the mountains and coastal areas. It may grow 70 to 90 feet tall with a 50-70 feet spread. The bark of older trees has a shaggy appearance that provides winter interest in the landscape. The trunk may mature to 2-3 feet in diameter. The nuts produced are valued by wildlife and are sold commercially for humans. The wood has multiple uses including curing meat. It may take 40 years for this tree to produce nuts but it lives for 200-300 years of age.
This tree is adaptable to both sandy and clay loams and prefers fertile, deep, soil that is well-drained. It grows in both full sun and part shade and is drought tolerant once established. The deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant. Large trees like the shagbark hickory can produce ample litter through dropped leaves and fruit so choose its planting location accordingly.
Use as a shade tree for a large yard, in a park or naturalized area. This hickory serves as a host plant for Hickory horndevil (Citheronia regalis) and Luna (Actias luna) moths as well as the Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) butterfly.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Occasionally the hickory bark beetle, pecan weevil, and twig girdler can be a problem.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Holden', var. australis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Holden', var. australis
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- ovata
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as fuelwood, charcoal, furniture, flooring, tool handles, ladder rungs, dowels, athletic good and gymnasium equipment. Wood is used to cure meats.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A. and NE. Mexico
- Distribution:
- USA: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV Canada: ON, QC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for Banded Hairstreak butterfly and many moths including the Luna moth. The nuts are eaten by a variety of wildlife such as squirrels, chipmunks, and black bears. Moderately resistant to deer. This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
- Edibility:
- Nuts are edible and sweet.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 70 ft. 0 in. - 90 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Irregular
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The round fruit is a 4 parted husk that is 1½-2" long and wide. It is green maturing to deep brown and splits open when the nut is mature. The nut of each fruit is light tan, oval, and somewhat compressed. The meat is edible and sweet. Displays in October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Non-showy, monoecious greenish-yellow flowers appear in May. The male flowers in 3-5 inch pendulous catkins and the female flowers in short spikes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The compound leaves are 8-14 inches long, alternate, medium yellow-green, odd-pinnate. Each has 5-7 finely-toothed, broadly lance-shaped, pointed leaflets. Leaflets range from 3-7 inches long and 1-3 inches wide. The terminal leaflet is the largest. Undersides are pale green and may have a few hairs along the veins. The fall color is yellow to a golden brown.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Shaggy
- Bark Description:
- The bark on young trees is scaly. As the tree ages, narrow, flat plates 1- 3 foot long develop and begin to separate and curve away from the trunk, giving it a shaggy appearance.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- The twigs are stout, light gray, light brown, or reddish-brown with scattered white lenticels. Grayish-brown terminal bud is covered with 3-4 loose pubescent scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Fire
- Problems:
- Messy
