Carya ovata #3

Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory

Shagbark Hickory is one of the most ecologically important native trees in North America and is widely recognized as a keystone species. Its presence supports an extraordinary web of life: hundreds of species of native moths and butterflies rely on it as a host plant, while its large, high-fat nuts are a critical food source for birds and mammals. The tree’s iconic, exfoliating bark provides essential shelter and roosting habitat for bats, birds, and overwintering insects. In spring, subtle yellow-green catkins appear, followed by the development of thick-shelled nuts that ripen in fall. Bold, compound foliage forms a strong summer canopy before turning golden yellow in autumn. Long-lived and slow to establish but exceptionally durable, this Illinois native is best suited to large landscapes, woodlands, and restoration plantings where its ecological value can be fully realized.