Carya laciniosa
Shellbark Hickory

Family:

Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) 10

Genus:

Carya (Hickory Pecan Hican) 7

Plant Type:

Tree 579

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 236

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 807

Foliage:

Green (Dark yellow-green)

Ultimate Height:

60-80 feet

Ultimate Spread:

35-45 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil:

Prefers deep, moist, fertile soils of floodplains and bottomlands.

Range:

New York to Iowa, south to Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma

Diagnostic Characteristics:

The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 10 to 24" long, 7 leaflets, rarely 5-9, 4 to 10" long, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, dark yellow-green, pubescent beneath. The petiole and rachis are pubescent or glabrous, often peristent during winter. Similar to C. ovata in bud, stem and bark characteristics but leaflets do not have hairs at tip of teeth like those of C. ovata. The oval fruit is somewhat larger (2"), 1/4" husk, lacking wings, and the nut is 4- to 6-ribbed versus the 4-ribbed nut of C. ovata.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Bark 161

Food/Edible 78

Indiana Native 154

Additional Information

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 excellent lumber quality.