Shagbark Hickory

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata [C-value 5]
Walnut family (Juglandaceae)
Blooms mid-May - mid-June

The native Shagbark Hickory is common in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and medium-moist deep loam or clay-loam soil. Habitats include upland woodlands, lower wooded slopes and bluffs. This tree is typically 60-80' tall at maturity with a straight trunk 2-3½' across. The trunk bark is light to medium gray, rough-textured and "shaggy" from narrow plates that partially peel away from the trunk. The compound leaves are odd-pinnate with 5 leaflets, 3-8" long. Shagbark Hickory is monoecious, producing separate male and female flowers on the same tree. The male flowers are produced in drooping yellowish green catkins, 3-6" long, arranged in groups of 3. The tiny individual male flowers are less than 1/8" across. The female flowers are produced in short greenish spikes, about 1/3" long, at the tips of young shoots.

Shagbark Hickory with male catkins at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve May 25, 2015

Shagbark Hickory new spring shoots at Hoover Forest Preserve May 14, 2015

Shagbark Hickory new shoot at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 18, 2010

Shagbark Hickory (with fruits developing into nuts) at Hudson Crossing Park July 20, 2017

Fertile female flowers are replaced by clusters of globe-shaped fruits, 1½-2" across.

Shagbark Hickory (with Poison Oak vine) at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve May 25, 2015

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