Tree Indiana Native Carya cordiformis [Bitternut Hickory] Carya cordiformis is naturally found growing in low woodlands and along rivers, streams, and ponds. This is one of the fastest growing of the hickories. The long taproot can make this species difficult to transplant. There are no serious insect or disease threats.
Tree Indiana Native Carya glabra [Pignut Hickory] With its straight trunk and strong, hard wood, the Pignut Hickory is most commonly grown for the lumber industry and is not generally used as an ornamental tree. In the wild, it tends to grow on ridges and hillsides in dry to moist soils. This large tree needs a great deal of room to grow and transplants poorly due to its large taproot. The nuts are generally too bitter for humans to eat, but are…
Tree Indiana Native Carya illinoinensis [Pecan] The Pecan is a tall, straight-trunked tree and is the largest of the hickories. It is well-known for its sweet, edible nuts and because of this, it is an important horticultural crop in the south, where it produces fruit most abundantly. However, it is not generally recommended for use in the landscape, due to its pest susceptibility and litter problem. With its large taproot, it can also be quite difficult to transplant.
Tree Indiana Native Carya laciniosa [Shellbark Hickory] This high branching tree has a straight, slender trunk, narrowing crown, and small spreading branches with the lower branches drooping and upper branches ascending. The nut that is produced is sweet and edible. The Shellbark Hickory is similar to C. ovata (Shagbark Hickory) in many respects, except it does not grow as large and tends to grow near lowlands or bottomlands where there is more moisture in the soil. The wood from this tree provides…
Tree Carya × nussbaumeri [Hican] This tree is a hybrid of the pecan and shellbark hickory, thus the common name of "Hican". It was developed to produce a nut with the taste of pecans, but with the weaker shell of the shellbark hickory. This plant has a large tap root and can be difficult to transplant. Dropped fruits, stems, and leaves can be a litter problem. Can be prone to various fungal leaf spots.
Tree Indiana Native Carya ovata [Shagbark Hickory] The bark of Carya ovata gives the tree its common name and is characteristically rough and shaggy on mature trees, growing in long flat plates, making especially good winter interest. The wood of this tree is especially hard, making it useful for a variety of products. This tree develops a large taproot, making it difficult to transplant.
Tree Indiana Native Carya tomentosa [Mockernut Hickory] This tree is found on ridges, dry hills, and slopes but grows best in moist, well-drained soil. The fall color is deep golden yellow to golden brown and persists. Fruit is round to elliptical with a thick husk splitting at the base and contains an edible seed.
Tree Indiana Native Juglans cinerea [Butternut] Juglans cinera is a large, rounded tree similar to, but overall smaller than the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). It is not commonly grown for ornamental purposes. The nut, once one is able to crack the hard shell, is edible, sweet, oily, and buttery. Long tap root makes transplanting difficult. This species is valued for its wood and between overharvesting and losses from Butternut Canker (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum), this species has become rare in its native habitat.
Tree Indiana Native Juglans nigra [Black Walnut] Nuts are a serious litter problem, staining sidewalks and driveways. Juglone (found in leaf litter and possibly roots) is toxic to many plants, like tomatoes, blackberries, red pines, and many others. Black Walnut wood is valuable and has a variety of commercial uses, especially for furniture.
Tree Juglans regia [Persian Walnut] Juglans regia is a large, rounded, spreading tree that produces the walnuts frequently seen in stores. It may take up to 20 years for this tree to become mature enough to produce a decent-sized crop of nuts. Long tap root makes transplanting difficult.
