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Shellbark Hickory

Carya laciniosa

  • Large Brown Sweet Nuts
  • Largest Nut of All Hickories
  • Self-Pollinating Nut Tree
  • Bear Nuts in 10 to 12 Years
  • Grows 60' to 80', 40' Spread
  • Zones 5 to 8
  • Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NM, TX
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 1013 | Shipping Height: 2' - 3'
*Mem. Price:$6.98
Reg. Price:$10.50
Quantity:

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Zones 5 - 8
Zones 5 - 8

Hardiness Zones: Zones 5 - 8
The Shellbark Hickory can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

nut tree
nut tree

Type of tree:
The Shellbark Hickory falls into the following type(s): Nut Trees

60' - 80' High
60' - 80' High

Mature Height:
The Shellbark Hickory grows to be 60' - 80' feet in height.

40' Spread
40' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Shellbark Hickory has a spread of about 40' at full maturity.

Slow Growth
Slow Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a slow growth rate. [More about this.]

Full Sun
Full Sun

Sun:
This hickory does well in full sun.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
The Shellbark Hickory grows in acidic, alkaline, drought tolerant, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, wet, clay soils.

Oval Shape
Oval Shape

Shape:
This hickory has oval, rounded shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
A native of moist bottomlands and floodplains of the United States, the shellbark hickory's wood is hard and strong, and its nut is prized for its sweetness. It is a sturdy strong with a life span of 80 or more years. The large nut is a wildlife favorite.

Wildlife Value:
The leaves of the Shellbark Hickory are eaten by deer and other browsers while the nuts are consumed by deer, bear, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, wild turkey, and other animals.

Leaves:
Pinnately compound, 5-9 leaflets, 10"-24" long, dark yellow-green on top.

Flower Color:
Greenish

Bloom Time:
Spring.

Fruit Description:
Large, oval, 1/4" thick husk covers a hard, light brown shell, 1 3/4"-2 1/2" with 4-6 "ribs." The large kernel is sweet. Harvest in fall.

An attractive, high-branching tree. Tree will bear large brown sweet nuts in 10-12 years. Likes moist soil. Grows 60' to 80', 40' spread. Great wildlife food source with the nuts being consumed by deer, bear, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, wild turkey, and other animals. (Self-pollinating) (zones 5-8)

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, CA, HI, NM, TX , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.