shellbark hickory
Carya laciniosa
USDA zones5 to 8
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moist to wet soil
Size40 to 100 feet tall40 to 60 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Bloom color
- Yellow , green , brown
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Loam
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa) is a tree for pollinator gardens and food gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and moist to wet, loamy soil. It grows slowly and has the largest hickory nuts, and bees visit its spring blooms. You can tell it apart from other hickories by its large leaves and orange twigs. Deer tend to pass it by.
Pairs well with White oak, Rising Sun Texas redbud, and Northwind switchgrass.
Native range
AL, AR, DC, DE, and 21 more places. See all 25
AL, AR, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, and WV; ON.