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Carya laciniosa is often confused with:
Carya ovata Tree form (Guilford County, NC)-Early Fall
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Carya aquatica Form
Carya tomentosa Tree form (Guilford County, NC)-Early Fall
Tilia americana Tilia americana

Carya laciniosa

Phonetic Spelling
KAIR-yuh la-sin-ee-OH-suh
Description

Shellbark Hickory is a large deciduous tree in the walnut family that occurs mainly in Ohio and upper Mississippi River valleys. It grows 60-80 feet tall but can reach up to 100 feet with a narrow round to elliptical crown.

Plant in humusy rich medium to wet soils in full to part sun and can tolerate temporary flooding in the spring. Give it plenty of room to grow. The nuts are sweet and produced on trees 10-20 years of age. This tree supports many wildlife species.

Unfortunately, this tree is threatened in its native habitat.

This plant is a food source for the young larvae of the Hickory horndevil (Citheronia regalis) moth.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#slow growing#native tree#moth caterpillar host#nuts#small mammals#NC native#deer browsing plant#nighttime garden#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#deciduous tree#food source hard mast fruit#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#hickory horndevil moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#slow growing#native tree#moth caterpillar host#nuts#small mammals#NC native#deer browsing plant#nighttime garden#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#deciduous tree#food source hard mast fruit#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#hickory horndevil moth#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Carya
    Species:
    laciniosa
    Family:
    Juglandaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used to make tool handles, sporting goods, furniture, cabinets, and veneer. Also used as fuelwood and charcoal.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada, central to eastern U.S.A., NC
    Distribution:
    Found in Maine, PA, NY south through GA west to TX north through OK, NB, Missouri, IO east through IL, IN, MI and Ontario
    Wildlife Value:
    The leaves of the shellbark hickory are eaten by deer and other browsers while the nuts are consumed by deer, bears, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, wild turkey and other animals. It provides nutrition for bees in early to late spring. 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
    Edibility:
    Nuts are sweet and edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Cream/Tan
    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 thick husk is green when young and becomes brown with maturity and is split into 4 sections. The nut is egg-shaped and tan in color and matures in the fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    2-3 inch long yellow-green male catkins. Female flowers are produced in clusters of 2-6 on the same twigs as the catkins
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The dark green odd-pinnate compound leaves have 5-9, but usually, 7 leaflets that are 4-8 inches long and 1- 2.5 inches across. They are broadly lance-shaped and pointed with fine teeth. The fall color is yellow to yellow-brown.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Ridges
    Scaly
    Smooth
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Irregular
    Bark Description:
    The bark is initially smooth and gray with shallow interlacing ridges, later developing long, loose plates, resulting in a shaggy appearance.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Lenticels:
    Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Young twigs are pale to medium brown with orange lenticels. They have hairs early in the season but become smooth later on.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals