Hickory (Shellbark)
Carya laciniosa
The king of hickory nuts, Shellbark hickory produces the largest and sweetest nuts in the hickory family, with meat that rivals pecans in flavor and quality. These impressive native trees are prized by foragers and nut enthusiasts for their thick-shelled nuts that crack open to reveal plump, rich kernels with exceptional flavor. While slow to establish, mature Shellbark hickories become magnificent shade trees that provide decades of premium nut harvests.
Harvest
180-210d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
5–8
USDA hardiness
Height
40-100 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Hickory (Shellbark) in USDA Zone 7
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Hickory (Shellbark) · Zones 5–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Moist, Occasionally Wet. Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Slow. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The thick husk is green when young and becomes brown with maturity and is split into 4 sections. The nut is egg-shaped and tan in color and matures in the fall.
Color: Cream/Tan. Type: Nut. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Nuts are sweet and edible.
History & Origin
Origin: Canada, central to eastern U.S.A., NC
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Moths, Pollinators, Small Mammals
- +Wildlife value: The leaves of the shellbark hickory are eaten by deer and other browsers while the nuts are consumed by deer, bears, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, wild turkey and other animals. It provides nutrition for bees in early to late spring. This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed.
- +Edible: Nuts are sweet and edible.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Ginger
Thrives in hickory's shade and helps suppress weeds while tolerating allelopathic compounds
Spicebush
Native understory shrub that complements hickory's ecosystem and attracts beneficial insects
Wild Columbine
Shade-tolerant native that grows well under hickory canopy and attracts pollinators
Bloodroot
Early spring ephemeral that utilizes space before hickory leafs out fully
Wild Bergamot
Native plant that attracts beneficial insects and tolerates partial shade from hickory
Elderberry
Compatible native shrub that provides wildlife habitat and doesn't compete heavily with hickory roots
Wild Leek
Spring ephemeral that grows well in hickory's understory before full canopy development
Serviceberry
Native understory tree that complements hickory in forest edge plantings
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to hickory and inhibits growth and nut production
Tomato
Highly sensitive to hickory's allelopathic compounds and will show stunted growth
Apple
Susceptible to hickory's allelopathic effects and may experience reduced fruit production
Pine
Acidifies soil significantly which hickory does not tolerate well, prefers neutral to alkaline conditions
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346395)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally disease resistant, very hardy native tree
Common Pests
Hickory bark beetle, webworms, aphids, squirrels
Diseases
Anthracnose, leaf spots, cankers (rare)