Shellbark Hickory | Carya laciniosa

🌿 Ships well rooted in a 3.5 x 9 inch deep tree pot. May arrive dormant and without leaves/foliage December through April. Grown from seed.

The Shellbark Hickory is a long-lived native hardwood tree prized for its delicious, sweet nuts, towering form, and ornamental bark that peels in long strips. Sometimes called Kingnut Hickory for producing the largest nuts of any hickory, this species is native to bottomlands and river valleys of the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. Its deep taproot, golden fall color, and wildlife value make it a fantastic addition to food forests, restoration plantings, or large homesteads.

Latin Name: Carya laciniosa
Size at Maturity: 60–100 ft tall, 40–60 ft wide
USDA Zone: 5–9
Site & Soil: Prefers deep, moist, well-drained soils; thrives in full sun. Tolerates occasional flooding and heavy soils.
Pests & Diseases: Generally resilient; slow-growing but long-lived; may experience occasional leaf spot or minor pest damage

🌰 Uses:
Edible nuts (sweet, rich flavor—can be eaten raw or roasted)
Excellent wildlife food source for squirrels, turkey, deer, and other native species
Strong, rot-resistant wood used for tool handles, firewood, and lumber
Great shade or legacy tree for long-term land stewardship

🛠 Growing Tips:
Plant in an open area where it has room to grow tall and wide
Needs two genetically different hickory trees nearby for good nut production
Develops a strong taproot—transplant young and disturb roots as little as possible

💡 Fun Fact:
Shellbark Hickory nuts are some of the largest and sweetest in the hickory family—cherished by both wildlife and foragers.