Shellbark Hickory

LEAVES: Alternate, compound, 10″-24″ long, usually with 7 leaflets, dark green above, paler yellow green and hairy beneath, margins fine-toothed. The dried leaf axis, (petiole), often persisting on the tree all winter.

TWIGS: Orange-brown, usually hairy and often angled with numerous orange lenticels, somewhat stouter than Shagbark hickory and with orange colored leaf scars. The very large buds have 6 to 8 dark brown loosely fitting, keeled outer scales, end buds 3/4″ – 1″ long.

FRUIT: Largest of the native hickories, 1¾” – 2½” long with a thick husk splitting into four pieces when ripe. The thick-shelled nut yellowish white to reddish brown, 4 to 6 ridged, pointed at both ends and containing a sweet kernel.

BARK: Closely resembles that of Shagbark hickory but with straighter, tighter plates and appearing less shaggy.

GENERAL: Also known as Kingnut hickory, this species is found on moist to wet, fertile bottomlands across southern Pennsylvania. The nuts are much in demand by man and wildlife. As with other hickories, the wood is very heavy, hard, and strong with very high shock resistance, and is principally used for tool handles.