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Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovate)
Did you know?
Lone stands of shagbark hickory have been found near Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. They may have been planted by native people hundreds of years ago. The shagbark hickory grows only in southern Ontario along the St Lawrence River and into Quebec. It can live for 200 years, grows to be 25 metres tall, and prefers rich, moist soil.
The leaves of the shagbark are 15 to 25 centimetres long, made up of 5 leaflets on a central stalk. They are green on top, and paler and hairy underneath. The tree’s bark separates into long plates as it gets older, which loosen from the trunk and give the tree a ‘shaggy’ look – that’s how it gets its name.
Nuts from the shagbark hickory are edible and are 3 to 4.5 centimetres long. They are sweet tasting and are a favourite food of squirrels.
Size: 20 to 30 metres tall, trunk is 30 to 80 centimetres in diameter
Moisture: Prefers moist soil
Shade: Prefers sun, but can tolerate some shade
Soil: Prefers rich soil
Planting tip: Shagbark hickories grow well on hillsides and in valleys – they prefer moist soil. More tips...
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Last Modified: April 07, 2009