Plant Details

Carya ovata

Hickory

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Carya ovata.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

20 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Hickory
  • Shagbark hickory[1][2]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Ruige hickory
  • Witte bitternoot
French
  • Caryer ovale[2]
Alabama
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 鳞皮山核桃[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 鱗皮山核桃[2]
Czech
  • ořechovec vejčitý[2]
Finnish
  • valkohikkori[2]
German
  • Schindelborkige Hickorynuss[1]
  • Schuppenrinden-Hickory[2]
Hungarian
  • Hikoridió[2]
Mvskoke
  • ocē-cvkakv[2]
Polish
  • Orzesznik pięciolistkowy[2]
Russian
  • Кария яйцевидная[2]
Slovak
  • hikória biela[2]
Spanish
  • jicoria ovada[2]
Swedish
  • skidhickory[2]
Ukrainian
  • Гікорі біле[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Carya ovata (Mill.) K.Koch ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Schindelborkige Hickorynuss (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154693; taxon RHSS.
  • Shagbark hickory (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154694; taxon RHSS.
[2] Carya ovata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • shagbark hickory — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • jicoria ovada — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • ořechovec vejčitý — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • Кария яйцевидная — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • caryer ovale — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • Ochatakba — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • Schuppenrinden-Hickory — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • 鳞皮山核桃 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • 鱗皮山核桃 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • skidhickory — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • Orzesznik pięciolistkowy — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • Hikoridió — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • valkohikkori — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • hikória biela — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • ocē-cvkakv — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.
  • Гікорі біле — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54791; Carya ovata.

General information

Scientific name: Carya ovata
Accepted name (Kew): Carya ovata (Mill.) K.Koch View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Juglandaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Carya (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Hickory
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 25.00 m
Spread: 20.00 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Milk, Sap, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Dye, Wood, Fragrant, Carbon farming

Description

Seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and are often used in pies, pastries, bread, and more. They have a sweet and delicious flavor. The seeds can be ground into flour and used to thicken soups. A milky substance can be made from the seeds and spread like butter on bread or vegetables. The shell of the seeds is usually thick and hard, but in certain cultivars, it can be thinner. The seeds ripen in late autumn and can be stored for up to 2 years in a cool cellar. The seeds are up to 4 cm long. The sap is sweet in taste and is tapped in the spring, and it can be used to make syrup.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 30/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 756174; name ID 2701738; Carya Nutt.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1337732; name ID 2701831; Carya ovata (Mill.) K.Koch.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Carya ovata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5130631, ID RHSS: Carya ovata (Mill.) K.Koch (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Carya ovata — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .