Carya ovata
shagbark hickory
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
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height60' - 80'
Width/Spread30' - 50'
Reaches mature size in approximately 50 years
Bloom Information
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-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
