Shellbark hickory

Carya laciniosa

Tree30×15 mzone 6–10full sun🍎 Edible

Profile

Family: Juglandaceae
Habit: Tree
Height: 30 m
Spread: 15 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 200 years
First yield: after 9 years
Hardiness: zone 6–10
Shade tolerance: full sun
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very wet
pH: 5.6 – 7.6

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering
Fruit harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible8 of 10

Medicinal2 of 10

Other uses5 of 10

Origin & habitat

Eastern North America – from New York and Pennsylvania to Indiana, Iowa and Kansas.

Deep, nutrient-rich soils on floodplains and lowlands. Grows best on neutral or slightly alkaline soils and tolerates light spring flooding.

⚠️ Hazards

Toxicity: slightly toxic

This is no substitute for expert identification. When in doubt, do not eat it.

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