PlantsNuts & Mast
Shellbark Hickory
Carya laciniosa
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Large edible-nut tree for moist ground
AdvancedNuts & MastAlso TreesAlso Rain GardenEdibleRain garden
- Light
- Full sun
- Moisture
- Medium–moist
- Mature size
- 50–80+ ft
- Spacing
- 35–60 ft
- Bloom or harvest
- Nuts Sep–Oct
- How it spreads
- Large tree
- What to buy
- Container or balled-and-burlapped; bare-root in early spring.
- When to plant
- Early Apr–May after soil thaws and drains; Sep–mid Oct for container/B&B. Bare-root: early spring.
In the design
Needs deep soil and considerable room.
If you eat it
Shellbark hickory nuts
Large-space tree
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
