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shagbark hickory

Scientific Name: Carya ovata

Family: Juglandaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)

The shagbark hickory, scientifically known as Carya ovata, is a distinctive tree native to eastern North America. Its common names, including shellbark hickory and scalybark hickory, allude to its most prominent feature: its shaggy bark.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions that the Shagbark Hickory has nuts that "rain down in autumn", which could present a choking hazard or digestive upset if ingested by pets.
  • The shaggy bark which peels off in long, tough curls might be tempting for some pets to chew or ingest.

Considerations for Children

  • The text mentions that the Shagbark Hickory has nuts that "rain down in autumn", which could present a choking hazard if ingested by children.
  • The shaggy bark which peels off in long, tough curls might be tempting for some children to chew or ingest.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch
  • Family: Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
  • Synonyms: The text references Carya laciniosa (Shellbark Hickory) and Carya carolinae-septentrionalis (Southern Shagbark Hickory).

Distribution and Habitat

  • The shagbark hickory is commonly found in the Eastern United States and southeast Canada, specifically in Southern Ontario.
  • It's native from Quebec to Iowa, east to the Des Moines River in Humboldt.
  • The tree grows in zones 5 and 6.
  • It is frequently found in dry uplands or moist valleys. Shellbark hickory is often found in moist bottomlands.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • The shagbark hickory is a large, deciduous tree, typically growing 70-90 feet tall, but can reach 120 feet.
  • It has an irregular, oval-rounded crown and a trunk typically 2-3 feet in diameter.
  • The bark is ashy gray and separates into long strips, giving the trunk a shaggy appearance.
  • Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 8 to 14 inches, usually with five leaflets.

Quirky Facts

  • Chef Odessa Piper calls shagbark hickory nuts the "nobility of nuts," comparing them to black truffles.
  • A syrup, distinct from maple syrup, can be made from the bark of the shagbark hickory.

Ecological Role

  • The shagbark hickory is an important timber tree.
  • Its wood makes excellent, slow-burning charcoal.
  • The nuts are a food source for squirrels and beetle grubs.
  • It can be planted in large landscapes for excellent shade.

Genetic Information

  • The diploid shagbark hickory hybridizes with the diploid shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa) to produce C. X dunbarii Sarg.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The text mentions that nuts "rain down in autumn--thanks to squirrels and beetle grubs".
  • Pecan shoots can be grafted onto hickory trees.

Additional Resources

  • Fact Sheet ST-123, November 1993.
  • Arborday.org offers information on size, height, growth rate, sun and soil preference.
  • The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum voted Shagbark hickory, Carya ovata, as the 2011 Tree of the Year.