Practical
Plants

Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Carya genus in the family Juglandaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Carya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
30 m
Spread
15 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

None known

Edible uses

Seed - raw or cooked and used in pies, cakes, bread etc[8][15][20][21][7]. Sweet and delicious[1][4][7]. The seed can be ground into a meal and used to thicken soups etc[7]. A nut milk can be prepared from the seed and this is used as a butter on bread, vegetables etc[7]. The shell is normally thick and hard[2] but in selected cultivars it can be thin[6]. The seed ripens in late autumn and can be stored for up to 2 years in a cool cellar[4]. The seed is up to 4cm long[12]. Sap - sweet[14]. It is tapped in spring[2] and can be made into a syrup[10].

Product or use
Milk
Plant part
Sap
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The fresh small shoots have been steamed to make an inhalant for treating headaches[14]. A decoction of the bark has been taken internally to treat rheumatism and also used as a poultice on rheumatic joints[14].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antirheumatic

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark[10]. Wood - close-grained, tough, elastic, heavy and very hard. It weighs 52lb per cubic foot[11]. An excellent quality wood, it is used for tool handles, wheel spokes, sporting goods, baskets etc[17][20][22][24][11][12]. The wood is an excellent fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[12]. It produces an excellent charcoal[12].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

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[16][21][24].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[23]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[23]. 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[9] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)

Cultivation

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[1][22][5][9]. Succeeds in drier soils than most members of this genus[9]. Slow growing[9]. A very ornamental but slow-growing tree[1][3][11], it grows well in Britain, especially when young[3][5], and does well in Cornwall[19]. The tree has a loose grey bark that comes away in broad flakes and gives the tree its common name[3]. The shagbark hickory is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed, there are some named varieties[7]. It tends to be low-yielding[4] and is said to be of no value in Britain as a commercial nut crop[3]. Trees take 15 years to come into flower from seed[4]. This species is the fastest growing hickory in N. America, it can fruit in ten years from seed[5]. Recommended cultivars (these are often hybrids with C. cathayensis or C. laciniosa) include:- Shagbarks - 'J Yoder No. 1', heavy cropping and early[9]. 'Porter'. 'Weschcke', a very thin shell and regular cropper[9]. 'Wilcox', an excellent producer[9]. Shellbarks (these are more likely to be hybrids with C. laciniosa) - 'Fayette', thin shelled[9]. 'Henry', a very large nut[9]. Cultivated as a timber tree in C. Europe[18]. Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1][5]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[1][9]. Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[5]. 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[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[9]. 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[5]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[5]. Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[12]. The leaves are aromatic[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  6. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  10. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2

  11. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  14. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  16. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  18. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  19. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

  20. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  21. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  22. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  23. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  24. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

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