Black Hickory

Also known as Texas Hickory, Bucket Hickory

Black hickory trees anchor dry upland forests across the southern Great Plains, thriving on sandy ridges and rocky slopes where drier conditions limit other hardwood species. Distinctive rusty reddish hairs along the leaf stalks and dark, deeply furrowed bark set this slow-growing tree apart from its relatives. Its heavy nut crops provide critical fall nourishment for forest wildlife while its dense, tough wood resists drought and decay.