A tall hickory with unmistakable shaggy peeling bark in long curling strips. Nuts are sweet and edible by humans; the loose bark provides essential summer roost habitat for Indiana bats and other bat species.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Carya ovata, the shagbark hickory, is a common hickory native to eastern North America, with two varieties. The trees can grow to quite a large size but are unreliable in their fruit output. The nut is consumed by wildlife and historically by Native Americans, who also used the wood.
Source: Wikipedia — Carya ovata Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium-large tree; compound leaves with 5 large leaflets; gray bark exfoliating in long strips; edible nuts in 4-parted husk.
Similar species. Other hickories (different leaflet counts). Black Walnut (different leaflets).
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Distinctive shaggy bark gives the species name. Important wildlife food (nuts) and historic source for hickory smoke wood.
§ Range
Eastern US and Canada
§ Habitat
Mature deciduous forests, especially on slopes and ridges
§ Threats
Forest loss, climate-driven range shifts, deer browsing on seedlings.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the shagbark hickory is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant shagbark hickory in yards with room for a large tree. Maintain mature hickories for bat habitat.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Carya ovata
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Carya ovata
- iNaturalist · taxon 49169
- IUCN Red List — search for Carya ovata
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Carya ovata
§ Sources cited
- USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual
