Shagbark Hickory

As we get further and further into the fall season, the annual leaf-color changing event becomes more and more prominent. Enter the Shagbark Hickory. Near my house, there is a little church picnic grove that is home to a few Shagbark Hickory. I drive by occasionally, and there’s just something about the bright yellow fall color and shaggy, peeling bark that always catches my eye. That, and I know it’s one of my dad’s favorite trees. The peeling bark is what draws him in; you don’t see a lot of trees where the bark peels in long strips and curls at the ends. Just think of that in winter, tipped in snow - spectacular!

Related to the Pecan, Shagbark Hickory produces edible hickory nuts. Most of the time, raw nuts need to be roasted before eating to get rid of the bitter flavor, but hickory nuts are sweeter than most and can be eaten raw. The nuts are encased in a thick four-sectioned husk, and this husk splits when ripe making it easy to get to the hard-shelled nut, but bring a hammer because breaking that shell is no easy task! Nowadays, Shagbark Hickory nuts are sold commercially for us to enjoy, but a wide variety of wildlife also enjoy the nuts. This tree is an excellent choice if you’re looking to bring more wildlife into your backyard. For you grilling enthusiasts out there, you should be familiar with hickory for a different reason: it burns well and gives grilled meat the rich, smoky flavor we all enjoy. Hickory is also a hardwood and can be used for making ladders, tool handles, and furniture.

Shagbark Hickory is a relatively large growing tree, so if you’re considering planting one, be sure to give it plenty of room to grow to its full potential: 60-80 feet tall and 40-60 feet wide. Since these trees are relatively native to most of the eastern United States, they are rather low maintenance, give them a spot in full sun or even a little shade, and they’ll do quite well. You’ll be enjoying that yellow fall color and peeling bark in no time. As for me, I’m going to take a little drive.

-Heather, Executive Product & Systems Manager

If you like pecans, you’ll love this Pecan relative, and the birds will, too! Shagbark Hickory is a choice native tree that produces delicious, sweet nuts for you and your feathered friends to enjoy. Blue Jays and woodpeckers will be grateful dinner guests, and with a little help (just break open the tough shells with a hammer), cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, and all sorts of seed-eaters will feast as well. Shagbark Hickory serves as a valuable host plant for many species of insects, which also feed our native songbirds. With this tree, there’s something on the menu for everyone!

Shagbark Hickory has been a part of North American lives since Native Americans lived off of the land. The nuts produced by Shagbark were used as an essential food source for the Natives and even early American settlers. Shagbark nuts are very popular with native wildlife and birds and are an excellent choice for bringing more animals to your yard. Today, Shagbark nuts are sold commercially for many to enjoy. Hickories, in general, are great choices to use for smoking meats for a rich, smoky flavor and burns very well. Since hickory is a hardwood, the wood can be used to manufacture furniture, tool handles, and even ladders!

Shagbark gets its name from the "shaggy appearance" that its loose-hanging bark gives the overall tree. The ends of each piece of bark peels back and curls, creating the shag-like look this tree is known for. A hardy tree, Shagbark prefers humid conditions but will not hesitate to adapt to a wide array of other landscapes. Enjoy the heat of the summer under the lovely shade of shagbark hickory while the birds sing you a song overhead!