This Midwest native is named for its bark, which peels away in large, flat, curving plates, giving the tree a shaggy appearance. As a member of the walnut family, shagbark hickory produces edible nuts.
Plant a shagbark hickory, a long-lived large tree with a straight trunk, in a large landscape for excellent shade.
This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research.
- Family (English) Walnut
- Family (botanic) Juglandaceae
- Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Wide median
- Tree or plant type Tree
- Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
- Native locale Chicago area, Illinois, North America
- Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
- Mature height 60-80 feet
- Mature width 30-50 feet
- Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
- Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
- Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
- Drought tolerance Moderately tolerant
- Other tolerances Alkaline soil, Dry sites
- Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
- Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
- Shape or form Irregular, Oval
- Growth rate Slow
- Transplants well No
- Planting considerations May be difficult to find in nurseries
- Wildlife Cavity-nesting birds, Game birds, Migrant birds, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Has cultivars Yes
