This impressive tree has ornamental bark, stature second to none, and the nut is said to be the tastiest of any of the hickory nuts. Yes, it takes a few years — well, 10 years till it begins producing, 40 for a bountiful harvest. It’s a tree to plant for your children or grand-children. Our trees are 5+ years old, so you have a little head start!

There’s more to enjoy about a Shagbark Hickory than just the nuts. Excellent fall color and highly ornamental shaggy bark make it an asset to the fall and winter landscape. It is tolerant of clay soil and will grow near black walnuts, and is a host plant for the larvae of several butterfly and moth species.

The crevices created by the peeling bark shelter many insects, especially in the winter.  They also provide roosting habitat for the endangered Indiana Bat and nesting habitat for a small bird, the Brown Creeper.

Birds relish the insects that seek refuge in the Shagbark Hickory, so you will find flycatchers, vireos, chickadees, gnatcatchers, warblers, tanagers, and other insectivorous birds nearby.  The blue jay and red-bellied woodpecker eat the nuts.

This large tree grows 70′-90′ with an oval irregular crown and will thrive in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil.  Our crop is grown from seed. Stop in today to learn more about Shagbark Hickory.

(Photo By SusquehannaMan [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons)