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Carya ovata

Common name: Shagbark Hickory Family: Juglandaceae
Author: (Mill.)K.Koch. Botanical references: 11, 43, 200
Synonyms: Juglans ovata (Mill.), Hicoria ovata ((Mill.)Britton.), Carya alba ((L.)Nutt. non Koch.)
Known Hazards: None known
Range: Eastern N. America - Quebec to Ontario, south to Florida, Kansas and Texas.
Habitat: Dry upland slopes, rich deep moist soils and well drained soils of lowland and valleys[43, 62, 82].
Edibility Rating (1-5): 3Medicinal Rating (1-5):1

Other Possible Synonyms:From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
C. ovata var. fraxinifolia[B,P] C. ovata var. nuttallii[B,P] C. ovata var. pubescens[B,P] C. tomentosa[B,G,HORTIPLEX,P] C. tomentosa var. subcoriacea[B,P] Hicoria alba[B,P] Hicoria borealis[B,P] Hicoria tomentosa[B,P] Juglans alba[B,P]
Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
Mockernut Hickory [DEN1,FEIS,B,P], Shag-bark Hickory [B], Shagbark Hickory [P,FEIS,DEN1],
Epithets:From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
ovata = oval
Systematics:From a USDA Plants Database
Order: Juglandales. Walnut family
Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
Us(Appalachia)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious tree growing to 30m by 15m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 4. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The scented flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Canopy.

Cultivar 'Bridgewater': Woodland, Canopy.
Cultivar 'Cedar Rapids': Woodland, Canopy.
Cultivar 'Henry': Woodland, Canopy.

Edible Uses

Milk Sap Seed.

Seed - raw or cooked and used in pies, cakes, bread etc[2, 4, 61, 62, 183]. Sweet and delicious[1, 117, 183]. The seed can be ground into a meal and used to thicken soups etc[183]. A nut milk can be prepared from the seed and this is used as a butter on bread, vegetables etc[183]. The shell is normally thick and hard[101] but in selected cultivars it can be thin[159]. The seed ripens in late autumn and can be stored for up to 2 years in a cool cellar[117]. The seed is up to 4cm long[229].
Sap - sweet[257]. It is tapped in spring[101] and can be made into a syrup[226].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Analgesic Antirheumatic.

The fresh small shoots have been steamed to make an inhalant for treating headaches[257].
A decoction of the bark has been taken internally to treat rheumatism and also used as a poultice on rheumatic joints[257].

Other Uses

Dye Fuel Wood.

A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark[226].
Wood - close-grained, tough, elastic, heavy and very hard. It weighs 52lb per cubic foot[227]. An excellent quality wood, it is used for tool handles, wheel spokes, sporting goods, baskets etc[46, 61, 63, 82, 227, 229]. The wood is an excellent fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[229]. It produces an excellent charcoal[229].

Cultivation details

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[1, 63, 137, 200]. Succeeds in drier soils than most members of this genus[200]. Slow growing[200].
A very ornamental but slow-growing tree[1, 11, 227], it grows well in Britain, especially when young[11, 137], and does well in &ndndndnd[59]. The tree has a loose grey bark that comes away in broad flakes and gives the tree its common name[11].
The shagbark hickory is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed, there are some named varieties[183]. It tends to be low-yielding[117] and is said to be of no value in Britain as a commercial nut crop[11]. Trees take 15 years to come into flower from seed[117]. This species is the fastest growing hickory in N. America, it can fruit in ten years from seed[137]. Recommended cultivars (these are often hybrids with C. cathayensis or C. laciniosa) include:-
Shagbarks - 'J Yoder No. 1', heavy cropping and early[200]. 'Porter'. 'Weschcke', a very thin shell and regular cropper[200]. 'Wilcox', an excellent producer[200].
Shellbarks (these are more likely to be hybrids with C. laciniosa) - 'Fayette', thin shelled[200]. 'Henry', a very large nut[200].
Cultivated as a timber tree in C. Europe[50].
Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1, 137]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[1, 200].
Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[137]. During this time they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[137].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to this country, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[137]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[137].
Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[229].
The leaves are aromatic[245].

Propagation

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[78]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[78]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter[78, K]. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[200] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)

Scent

Leaves: Crushed
The leaves are aromatic.

Cultivars

'Wilcox'
The medium-size nut weighs up to 4.9 grammes, the flavour is good, the cracking quality excellent[183]. The kernel averages 41% of the nut, it stores well[183]. This cultivar is an excellent, early producer[183, 200], it has been recommended for cultivation though the report did not say how well it does in Britain[200].
'Weschcke'
This cultivar has a very thin shell with a full, rich kernel that cracks out well into halves[183, 200]. It is a heavy and regular cropper[183, 200], and has been recommended for cultivation though the report did not say how well it does in Britain[200].
'Porter'
A large thin-shelled nut, it yields a high percentage of kernel (46.7%) and has excellent cracking qualities[183]. This cultivar has been recommended for cultivation though the report did not say how well it does in Britain[200].
'J Yoder No. 1' 'Yoder'
The thin-shelled nuts are very large, averaging 8.5 grammes each[183]. The flavour and kernel filling are very good[183]. A heavy cropping and early cultivar[200], it has been recommended for cultivation though the report did not say how well it does in Britain[200].
'Davis'
A medium-size nut with an excellent cracking quality and a plump kernel of high quality[183]. It ripens early[183]. A vigorous tree[183].
'Cedar Rapids'
The large nut weighs up to 6.9 grammes and matures early[183]. The tree bears very well, it does well in northern USA, but is susceptible to scab when grown in the south[183].
'Bridgewater'
The very large nut weighs up to 8.5 grammes, the kernel averaging 46.6% of the nut[183]. Recommended for growing in the far north of the USA, it is susceptible to scab when grown in the south[183]. Recommended as a pollinator for the cultivar 'Weschcke'[183].
'Abundance'
The thin-shelled nut is medium to large, weighing about 7 grammes[183]. The white kernel cracks out readily and averages 36% of the nut[183]. The tree bears annually, grafted trees often producing a crop in their second year of growth[183].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

References for Carya alba (a possible synonym). References for Carya tomentosa (a possible synonym).

References for the family Juglandaceae.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[43] Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[59] Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in &ndndndnd.
Trees and shrubs that succeed in &ndndndnd based on the authors own observations. Good but rather dated.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[62] Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009
Very readable.

[63] Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[82] Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.

[101] Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978
A very readable guide to some wild foods of Canada.

[117] Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984 ISBN 0802707699
A very readable and comprehensive guide. Well illustrated.

[137] ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants including Carya spp and Crocus sativus.

[159] McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977 ISBN 0-253-28925-4
A nice pocket guide to this region of America.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[226] Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989 ISBN 0889025649
Very good on identification for non-experts, the book also has a lot of information on plant uses.

[227] Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982 ISBN 0292780206
A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.

[229] Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980 ISBN 0442238622
A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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