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Carya ovata

shagbark hickory

Juglandaceae Eastern North America

Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Carya ovata is a slow-growing deciduous tree 60-80 feet (18-24 m) tall, occasionally exceeding 100 feet (30 m), with a narrow, oblong crown and a straight central trunk. Mature bark is grey and breaks into long, flat plates that curl away from the trunk at the top and bottom, giving the shaggy texture that names the tree. The pinnately compound leaves are 8-14 inches (20-36 cm) long with usually five leaflets, the three outer ones larger than the basal pair, turning clear yellow to golden-brown in autumn. It is monoecious, bearing drooping yellow-green male catkins and short female spikes in April and May. Rounded nuts 1-1.5 inch (2.5-4 cm) wide ripen in autumn inside a thick husk that splits cleanly into four sections, releasing a sweet, edible kernel. C. ovata grows in moist upland forests and well-drained bottomlands across eastern North America. The deep taproot makes established trees hard to move, and the falling husks and nuts create litter on paving and lawns.

Native Range

Carya ovata is native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and east Texas, and west to the eastern Great Plains. It grows in mixed hardwood forests, upland slopes, and moist, well-drained valley soils. A separate variety occurs in the mountains of northeastern Mexico.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a long-lived shade and specimen tree in large gardens, parks, and woodland edges. It is grown for nut production and as a native tree for wildlife plantings. The shaggy bark and golden autumn foliage suit naturalistic and conservation landscapes.

How to Identify

The shaggy grey bark peeling in long, loose vertical strips is the surest field mark on mature trunks. Leaves are compound with usually five leaflets, the terminal three noticeably larger and edged with tufts of hair at the teeth. The rounded nut sits in a thick husk that splits into four parts, unlike the thin, non-splitting husks of walnuts. C. ovata differs from Carya laciniosa, which has seven leaflets and larger nuts.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height60' - 80'

Width/Spread30' - 50'

Reaches mature size in approximately 50 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Yellow-green catkins and small female flowers appear in April and May as the leaves expand. The species is wind-pollinated, so the catkins are not showy. Nuts develop through summer and drop in September and October, with heavy crops every two to three years.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark yellow-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

10-15 years to bear nuts

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Carya ovata in full sun to partial shade on deep, moist, well-drained soil, from slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is hardy through USDA zones 4 to 8 and tolerates occasional flooding once established. The long taproot means seedlings and young trees move poorly, so set out nursery stock young or sow nuts in place. Growth is slow, often 1 foot (30 cm) or less per year, and trees may take 10 or more years to bear nuts. Water during drought in the first few seasons while the root system develops. Little feeding is needed on reasonable woodland soil.

Pruning

Prune in late winter while dormant, taking out dead, damaged, or crossing branches to build a strong central leader. Hickories bleed sap if cut in spring, so pruning is held until full dormancy. Mature trees need little routine work beyond deadwood removal.