Hickory

Hickory (Carya spp.)

Shagbark Hickory, Mockernut Hickory, Bitternut Hickory, Pignut Hickory

Full to part sun, medium to dry moisture, grows in loam, clay loam, and sandy loam; strongly acid to neutral pH 4.5–7.0; drought-tolerant once established due to deep taproot.

60–100 feet tall by 30–50 feet wide depending on species; compound leaves with 5–9 leaflets; inconspicuous catkin flowers in spring; edible or bitter nuts enclosed in thick, 4-sectioned husks in fall. Growth rate slow. Long-lived at 200–300 years.

Native region: Statewide in Tennessee across all provinces; Carya ovata (shagbark) and C. tomentosa (mockernut) are the most common species in Maury County and the Highland Rim; C. cordiformis (bitternut) prevalent in bottomlands.

Hickories are foundational mast-producing trees in Middle Tennessee forest and woodlot ecology — the large, energy-rich nuts support white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, and black bears across the I-65 corridor. The shaggy, plated bark of C. ovata is the most distinctive identification feature among Tennessee species. The deep taproot makes transplanting nearly impossible beyond the seedling stage; container-grown nursery stock or direct acorn sowing in the desired location is the only reliable establishment method. Hickory bark beetle (Scolytus quadrispinosus) attacks stressed or weakened trees; maintain vigor through mulching and avoiding soil compaction. Wood is the hardest and most shock-resistant of any North American hardwood and was the historical standard for tool handles, wagon wheels, and barrel hoops in Middle Tennessee.