Identify 6 Common Hickory Species in North America

American hickory

American Hickory (Carya ovata)

You’ll recognize this species by its large, oval-shaped leaves that grow in groups of five to nine. Look for trees with compound leaves to identify this hickory. The bark is dark and shaggy, and it grows in a wide range of soils from the foothills of the Ozark Mountains to the coastal plain. It can grow up to 130 feet tall, but averages 60 feet. The nuts are sweet and taste like pecans, one of their relatives. The American Hickory is one of 19 species that make up the genus Carya. It’s also part of the Juglandaceae family which includes both hickories and walnuts, as well as other nut-bearing plants like buckeyes and pecans.

Shagbark hickory

The shagbark hickory is aptly named for its long, peeling strips of bark that hang from its trunk and lower branches. The shagbark tree has a long life, similar to other nut-bearing trees. It won’t provide nuts as early as bitternut or pignut hickories, but it will grow to be the tallest species with a thick trunk and broad canopy.

Shagbark trees have become popular in the lumber industry because of its lightweight and strength. There are more uses for this wood than any other North American hardwood species. This includes flooring, furniture, tool handles, barrels and fuel wood.

Mockernut hickory

The mockernut hickory, also known as the white hickory or the pignut, is one of the most common species of hickories. It can be found from southern Ontario down through the Appalachian Mountains and into Florida. Mockernuts are very large trees, growing to a maximum height of 150 feet tall with trunks up to 3 feet in diameter. They have dark brown bark that fissures when they reach maturity; young mockernuts have gray bark that you can peel off like paper.

The dark green leaves are about a foot long and consist of five leaflets with serrated edges and large teeth. The leaflets are arranged in opposite pairs, with a fifth leaflet at the end of each branchlet (this is why it’s called “pinnate”—it has feather-like leaflets). These leaves turn yellow in autumn before falling off at wintertime. In early spring, small flowers appear on both male and female trees; these flowers are tiny but noticeable because they emit a strong smell similar to burnt sugar or molasses.

Mockernut hickories produce nuts that look slightly different depending on gender; female nut shells tend to be more rounded while those produced by males are more oval-shaped with pointier ends and ridges along their lengthwise edge for easier opening when ripe (but not ready yet)in fall/winter months only!

Bitternut hickory

Bitternut hickory is one of the more common hickories in North America. You can identify it by its leaves, which are made up of 5-9 leaflets. These leaflets give off a foul smell when crushed. Bitternut’s buds are very small and chestnut brown in color. The bark is smooth when young but as the tree matures, narrow ridges appear on the outer bark that extend to the top of the tree. The fruit is the smallest among hickories with a thin shell and large nut. Its nuts can be extremely bitter, which makes them unattractive to wildlife. Bitternut hickory has drooping limbs and a tall, slender form that stands out from other trees in its surroundings

Pignut hickory

Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is one of the most common and widely distributed of the hickories. It’s a large, deciduous tree that grows best in deep, fertile soils but can tolerate compacted, dry sites. Pignut hickory produces edible nuts that are typically small and bitter-tasting, hence the name “pignut.” Wild animals enjoy these nuts.

The bark is dark gray and smooth when young but develops deep ridges with age. The leaves are large alternates; each leaf has five or seven leaflets that are shiny green above and paler below. Male flowers grow long drooping catkins while female flowers produce short spikes directly off the twig. Pecan hickories also have four leaflets per leaf; however, pignut hickory leaves tend not to be as wide as pecan leaves and have pointier ends on their leaflets.

Shellbark hickory

Shellbark hickory is also known as kingnut hickory. This species is commonly found in the Ohio Valley and the lower Mississippi Valley. Shellbark hickory is a large tree, reaching heights of 150 feet (46 m). It’s easily distinguished from other hickories by its shaggy outer bark that curls back from the trunk.

Hickory is a common tree in North America.

Hickory is a common tree in North America. You will find them in almost every state in the United States, as well as several provinces of Canada. The trees range from 60 to 100 feet tall and live for up to 300 years. Hickories grow best in well-drained soil, but can be found growing on rocky hillsides, although this is less common. They have a high tolerance for fire but are susceptible to drought and flooding if the tree’s root system is not properly developed.