# shagbark hickory (*Carya ovata*) The shagbark hickory is a tall tree with unique, shaggy bark that peels away in long strips. It produces tasty nuts that many animals love to eat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Forests ![shagbark hickory](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hickory07103.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hickory07103.jpg) ## Appearance The shagbark hickory has distinctive long, shaggy strips of light gray bark peeling away from its trunk, making it look rugged and unique. It features large, compound leaves with usually five broad leaflets and produces rounded, light-brown nuts encased in a thick, green husk. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Juglandaceae - **Genus:** Carya ## Interesting facts - Early American pioneers sometimes used its shaggy bark to build temporary shelters or for kindling! - Its super tough wood is so flexible, it's used to make tool handles and even sports equipment! - The nuts have more protein and healthy fats than many other common tree nuts. - Wow! Some shagbark hickory trees have lived for over 300 years, silently watching history unfold! ## Special abilities - **Bark Armor:** Shagbark hickory has thick, peeling bark that insulates its trunk, protecting it from fire and extreme weather. - **Nut Powerhouse:** Shagbark hickory produces highly nutritious, energy-rich nuts that provide essential food for many forest animals. - **Deep Root Anchor:** Shagbark hickory develops a strong taproot, anchoring it firmly against powerful winds and droughts. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2000-4000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Squirrels store and eat its energy-rich nuts. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on young hickory shoots and fallen nuts. - **Shelter:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Woodpeckers nest in cavities within its large trunks. - **Eats:** [Luna Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/luna-moth) (*Actias luna*) — Luna moth caterpillars feed on its leaves before pupating. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and watch out for falling nuts! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify shagbark hickory? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is shagbark hickory? 2000-4000 cm ### How wide does shagbark hickory spread? 1000-2000 cm ### How big are the flowers on shagbark hickory? 0.5-1 cm ### When does shagbark hickory bloom? Spring ### Is shagbark hickory edible? Yes ### Is shagbark hickory toxic? None ### What is shagbark hickory's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Circleville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/circleville-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [East Windsor Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-windsor-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Rutgers Ecological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-ecological-preserve) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve - [Clayville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayville-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Goll Woods State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goll-woods-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see shagbark hickory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/shagbark-hickory) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Shagbark Hickory: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shagbark-hickory)