Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

yellow-leaved shagbark hickory with bark peeling
“Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)” by Plant Image Library, via Flickr. (cropped from original) CC BY-SA 2.0.
bark of shagbark hickory peeling off in small planks
“Shagbark hickory” by Ian Marsman, via Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: provides habitat for nesting birds, provides fruit to birds and small mammals

Seasons of Interest: year-round

Best Areas for Planting: mid- to high moisture, full sun-part shade, well-drained soils

Natural Habitat: can be found in upland woodlands and savannas

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.