Carya ovata
Common name: 
Shagbark Hickory
Pronunciation: 
KA-ri-a o-VA-ta
Family: 
Juglandaceae
Genus: 
Carya
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous tree to 70-90(120) ft [21-27(37) m] tall, straight trunk, often free of lower branches with a narrow crown, but may divide near the ground in an open location and have a spreading habit.  Bark is dark gray, separating into long plates which are free at the lower end or both ends, giving a shaggy appearance.  Leaves alternate, pinnately compound, 20-35 cm, 5 leaflets, sometimes 7, 10-15 cm long, leaflet widest in the middle, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, tip acuminate, margin finely toothed, with several tufts of hairs per tooth, deep yellow-green, paler and sparsely hairy below; fall color is yellow and golden brown.  Fruit almost globular, 3-6 cm long, wider than long, solitary or in pairs, husk thick and woody, splitting freely to the base when ripe, nut light colored, slightly flattened and usually 4-angled, has a thin shell, kernel sweet and edible.
  • Sun
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4         Native range from Quebec to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Texas.
  • ovata: ovate, egg-shaped, the fruit.
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  • plant habit, summer

    plant habit, summer

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • leaves, from different trees

    leaves, from different trees

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaf margin

    leaf margin

  • developing fruit

    developing fruit

  • summer buds and stems

    summer buds and stems

  • plant habit, leaves and fruit, fall

    plant habit, leaves and fruit, fall

  • fruit and buds, fall

    fruit and buds, fall

  • fruit and nuts

    fruit and nuts

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark