Common Name: Shellbark Hickory

General Information

Carya laciniosa is a deciduous tree with an opem, round to oblong crown; it usually grows around 20 - 30 metres tall but can reach 40 metres[].
Commonly harvested from the wild for its edible seed and its very useful wood, the plant is also cultivated as a nut crop with several named varieties having been developed,
Carya laciniosa has a large, stable population which is found across an extensive geographic range and there are no known major threats.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern and southern N. America - Iowa, Michigan and Ontario, south to Texas and Georgia

Habitat

Deep rich soils of floodplains and bottomlands, along creeks and in open cedar glades; at elevations up to 300 metres[, , ]. It grows best on neutral or slightly alkaline soils and tolerates shallow flooding in early spring[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Carya laciniosa grows wild in regions of N. America where the mean annual precipitation varies from 750 - 1,500mm, which can include 150 - 900mm of snow. The average January temperature iranges from minus 4° and plus 5°c, whilst for July it ranges from 23° - 27°c. An average minimum temperature of minus 26°c occurs in the northern part of the range, and an average maximum temperature of 38°c is found throughout the range. The mean length of the frost-free period ranges fromm 150 - 210 days[].
Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[, , , ].
A very ornamental, slow growing but long-lived tree[, ], it is sometimes cultivated for its edible seed, and is also sold in local markets in N. America[]. There are some named varieties[] though some of these are likely to be hybrids. 'Fayette' is a thin shelled form[]. 'Henry' has a very large nut[].
Trees have been planted on an experimental scale in Germany for their wood[].
Hybridizes in the wild with Carya ovata[].
Trees take up to 15 years from seed to bear fruit[].
Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[, ]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[, ].
The plant produces sprouts readily from the stump and the roots following fire or cutting (or other mechanical injury), and coppice management has been recommended[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to specific climates, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[].
Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked in pies, cakes etc[]. Sweet, with a very fine flavour[], it has the largest seeds of the hickories[], up to 5cm long[]. Probably the finest flavoured hickory[]. The shell is hard and thick[, ] and the cracking quality is poor compared to Carya ovata[]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[].

Sap - a sweet flavour[]. Tapped in spring, it can be boiled down to a syrup or sugar and be used in similar ways to maple syrup[, ].

Medicinal

The inner bark is astringent and detergent[]. It has been used as a dressing for cuts and has been chewed to treat sore mouths[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Trees are late coming into leaf (usually in late spring to early summer) and they lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[]. Whilst in leaf 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[].

Other Uses

Wood - close-grained, tough, hard, heavy, elastic, very flexible. It weighs 50 lb. per cubic foot. Of excellent quality with a beautiful grain, it is a favoured wood for tool handles and is also desired for furniture, cabinets, and veneer[, , , , , , , ]. However,this species plus many others in the genus suffer from ring shake, which is a separation of the wood along the annual rings and is a serious problem when making thin veneers[].
The wood is prized for use as fuel, and also makes an excellent charcoal[].

Propagation

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