Extension Forestry

Shellbark Hickory - Carya lacinios

Leaves are alternate, compound with five to nine leaflets.

Shellbark Hickory

The shellbark is the largest of our hickories, except the pecan, with a long, straight stem and a narrow crown.  It is found in the east central United States and extends into southeast Iowa.  It is usually found on deep, rich soils along river bottomlands.  The tree is popular becauseof its large, sweet and highly edible nuts.

The leaves are pinnately compound, 15 to 22 inches long with 5, 7, or 9 shining dark green leaflets.  The leaf stems often hang on the tree over winter.

The bark is gray, similar to the shagbark hickory, and is very rough breaking into horny plates and scaling from the tree.  The twigs are orange- brown.

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Contact: Paul Wray

Last Update: January, 2001