Shellbark hickory
8
2
5Will it grow where I live?
Shellbark hickory is hardy to zone 6, which covers nearly all of Central Europe and the British Isles; only harsh upland sites (Alps, high ridges) call for winter protection. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
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Profile
- Family
- Juglandaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Height
- 30 m
- Spread
- 15 m
- Growth
- medium
- Lifespan
- 200 years
- First yield
- after 9 years
- Productive years
- 100–350 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 |
Uses
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.
Frequently asked questions
Shellbark hickory: how big does it get?
Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 30 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 15 m. Growth is medium.
Shellbark hickory: what site does it need?
Shellbark hickory tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very wet. The pH may lie between 5.6 and 7.6.
Shellbark hickory: is it hardy?
Shellbark hickory is listed as hardy in zone 6–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Shellbark hickory: will it grow in Central Europe?
Shellbark hickory is hardy to zone 6, which covers nearly all of Central Europe and the British Isles; only harsh upland sites (Alps, high ridges) call for winter protection. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Shellbark hickory: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers in May.
Shellbark hickory: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens in October.
Shellbark hickory: when does it start cropping, and how much?
Shellbark hickory first crops after 9 years. The productive period lasts about 100–350 years. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.
Shellbark hickory: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Shellbark hickory are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Shellbark hickory: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 8/10, Medicinal 2/10, Other uses 5/10.
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