Hickory Trees

Hickory Trees At NatureHills.com!

Native ease, flavorful nuts and mast for wildlife, and lush shade, Hickory Trees are a long-lived keystone species! Native nut trees, Hickories fall into the genus Carya and are deciduous hardwood trees.

The most commonly known types of Hickory include Shagbark, Shellbark, Mockernut, Pignut, Pecan and Bitternut.

The Hickory tree produces spring catkins like Birch Trees but in groups of 3. Each is either a male or female tree (with the exception of some that are both and therefore self-pollinating). Female trees or female flowers will produce edible nuts that are encased in very hard shells, which typically need a nutcracker to open.

All Hickory trees are known for their hard nuts, except for the closely related Pecan (also Carya spp.). Pecans and all Hickory are excellent trees for use in the home landscape, a great provider of nuts and shade!

Look through our selection of Hickory Trees, or check out these popular selections:

• Shagbark Hickory Tree - iconic shaggy bark
• Black Hickory Tree - Very tall and wide with dark furrowed bark
• Shellbark Hickory Tree - Especially shaggy bark and thin-shelled nuts
• Pignut Hickory Tree - Lemony fall color and valuable wildlife resource

The nuts form green husks that dry to brown before splitting and revealing the pointed round-to-oval light-shelled nut inside.

How To Use Hickory Trees In Your Landscape

Landscapers and homeowners love the Hickory tree not only for its nuts but also for its lush shade and for its high, sturdy branches. Add to your windbreak and mixed tree canopies and are great for blocking drifting snow while handling heavy snow loads.

Perfect lawn and specimen trees, these are lovely to adorn your front or backyard but give them some room to grow. These are fantastic lawn and shade trees! You'll enjoy reduced cooling costs and increased home equity with a large long-lived tree like a Hickory. Plant in large open spaces and big backyards so a single tree can shade the entire area.

These keystone species will attract and shelter wildlife, squirrels as well as songbirds to your landscape. The lush leaves are long and alternately pinnate, a steady green with toothy serrated margins. Additionally, several species of butterfly and moth use Hickory as Host Plants for their larvae!

Hickory wood has long been used for flooring because of its toughness and attractive appearance. Hickory tree wood is also one of the preferred woods for barbecue and hickory smoked meats. Hickory trees are long-lived and as a general rule, produce hard, strong, and stiff lumber! You don't need to cut your tree down but Hickory has a star-shaped pith in the center!

Since these trees can be either male or female, be sure to plant in groups and create your very own nut tree grove or nut orchard, mixing your Hickory with other varieties for a larger harvest - for both yourself and your wildlife!

FAQs

Choosing The Right Hickory Tree For You!

Browse only for the Hickory Tree for your Planting Zone using our USDA zone filters then narrow your selection down by size.

• The Black Hickory is the largest Hickory - growing up to 140 feet and 100 feet wide
• Pignut Hickory are the slimmest, growing just 20-40 feet wide
• The Mockernut Hickory has a wide range of USDA growing zones from 4 to 9
• Shellbark Hickory has the showiest bark and largest sized nuts

Caring For Hickory Trees

Plant your Hickory Nut Tree or Nut orchard in a full-sun location. Choose a location that is well-drained or create a raised berm to plant in to avoid soggy root situations. However, native Hickory trees can thrive in occasionally wet soils but tolerate most moisture settings once established, even becoming drought tolerant.

• Ensure the proper amount of shade/sun
• These trees do best in well-drained soil.
• Create raised gardens or berms if you have poor drainage.
• Provide a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch over the root system
• Check out the Plants Description for pruning and other care requirements
• Water new plants regularly using the Finger Test to
• get established
• Prune Hickory in the late winter or very early spring

Get your new tree off on the right foot with these simple tips, planting advice in our #ProPlantTips, and with Nature Hills Root Booster!

Which Is The Best Tasting Hickory Nut?

With names like Pignut and Bitternut, it's clear that some Hickory varieties may not be the most palatable despite being technically edible. So which are the best (or at least better) tasting?

The Shagbark has flavorful nuts that taste like a cross between a Pecan and Walnut, and the Shellbark is regarded as being flavorful, along with the Kingnut and Black Hickory. However, the main reason Hickory nuts are not as commercially available is because of the difficulty of getting the nut meat free from the shells.

The Bitternut Hickory has the thinnest shells and the smallest-sized nuts but is very low on the taste test list.

The nuts (once you've made sure there are no holes or cracks) once dried and ripe can be stored in a cool dry place for several years!

At What Age Do Hickory Trees Produce Nuts?

Hickory Trees usually do not begin bearing nuts until 15 to 20 years old. But once they are of bearing age, regular crops of Hickory nuts can be expected every year with occasional mast years.

Where Do Hickory Trees Grow In The US?

Fantastic US Natives that grow throughout the Eastern U.S., from cold USDA growing zone 4 Northern climates to hot zone 8 and 9 Southern climates, the Hardwood Hickory has a very wide range of growing conditions.

Why Order Hickory Trees From NatureHills.com?

Family-owned and operated since 2001, Nature Hills Nursery prides itself on meeting the needs of customers with an ever-growing collection of online plants backed by our product guarantee and protected by Plant Sentry™.

All of our Hickory Trees are delivered safely to your home with instructions for planting, care and storage, so you can order knowing you'll have exactly what you need! Plus plenty more information in our #ProPlantTips Garden Blog for extra support and inspiration!

Call now at (402) 934-8116 and learn more about what Hickory Nut Trees are available for your landscape!