Fauna
Plant

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

Also known as Scalebark Hickory, Carolina Hickory, Northern Shagbark Hickory

Shagbark hickories are easily recognized by their dramatic gray bark, which peels away in long, vertical plates curled at the ends. They produce large, thick-husked nuts that provide a rich seasonal food source for squirrels, wild turkeys, and black bears. These long-lived trees often anchor hardwood forests, forming deep taproots and producing exceptionally dense, shock-resistant wood.

DeciduousHardwoodNut Tree
Shagbark Hickory reference1 / 7
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthesis)
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, hickory bark beetle, climate change
HabitatsDeciduous forests, floodplains, well-drained slopes
Life span200–350 years
Classification
  1. OrderFagales
  2. FamilyJuglandaceae
  3. GenusCarya
  4. SpeciesCarya ovata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Identify by Bark: Look for long, loose gray bark plates attached in the middle and curving outward at the edges.
  • Spotting Nuts: Check the ground beneath mature trees in autumn for thick, four-valved woody husks.
  • Observe Canopy: Look for compound leaves with five leaflets, the top three being noticeably larger.
Related species
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