Species PlantsShagbark Hickory

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

CommonPlant
Illustration of Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)

Shagbark Hickory is immediately recognizable by its shaggy, peeling bark that separates into long, curved plates. It is a dominant tree of eastern deciduous forests and produces sweet nuts encased in thick, four-ribbed husks. The exfoliating bark provides critical roosting habitat for three species of bats that hide beneath the loose plates.

Habitat
Eastern deciduous forests, often on dry to mesic upland slopes
Diet
Nuts eaten by squirrels, deer, wild turkey, and black bears
How common
Common

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