Green Shagbark Hickory Tree Seeds for Planting – Heirloom Non-GMO Garden Seeds

Key Features

• Botanical name: Carya ovata

• Commonly known as Shagbark Hickory, Shellbark Hickory and Scalybark Hickory

• Develops distinctive loose, shaggy strips of bark as the tree matures

• Features attractive compound green leaves that create a full summer canopy

• Produces rounded nuts enclosed in husks that split open when mature

• Sweet nuts provide an important food source for wildlife

• Excellent long-term choice for woodland landscapes, native plantings and spacious gardens

• Suitable for gardeners interested in growing a distinctive North American native tree

Growing Benefits

• Adds impressive long-term structure and character to the landscape

• Provides valuable habitat and food resources for wildlife

• Develops attractive seasonal foliage and distinctive mature bark

• Creates shade as the tree develops

• Offers an opportunity to grow a native woodland species from seed

• Produces naturally occurring hickory nuts after reaching maturity

Seed Specifications

• Plant Type: Long-lived deciduous hardwood tree

• Botanical Name: Carya ovata

• Foliage: Compound green leaves, typically composed of several leaflets

• Flowers & Fruit: Spring flowers followed by rounded nuts enclosed in green-to-brown husks

• Growing Conditions: Well-drained soil, adequate moisture, sunlight to light shade and ample growing space

Growing Tips

• Cold-moist stratify the nuts before spring sowing to help overcome natural embryo dormancy.

• Choose a permanent planting location carefully because seedlings develop a deep taproot.

• Use well-drained soil and maintain consistent moisture while young plants establish.

• Protect newly planted seeds and seedlings from squirrels, rodents and other seed-eating wildlife.

Seed Storage

Keep hickory nuts cool and protected from drying. For longer storage, airtight refrigerated conditions with high humidity are recommended. Avoid warm, dry storage because loss of moisture can reduce seed viability.

Unique Facts About Seeds

• Shagbark hickory is scientifically known as Carya ovata and belongs to the walnut family, Juglandaceae.

• Its mature bark separates into loose gray-brown plates, creating one of the most recognizable bark patterns among hickories.

• The tree can become a substantial landscape specimen, commonly reaching considerable height at maturity.

• Its nuts are sweet and edible and are also an important food source for wildlife.

• Fresh seeds can have good germination potential, but natural embryo dormancy means they require a period of cold treatment.

• Young seedlings typically devote significant early growth to a deep taproot, so transplanting should be done carefully.

• Shagbark hickory is native across much of the eastern and central United States and extends into parts of southern Canada and northeastern Mexico.

Growing Instructions

• Planting Season: Sow naturally in fall or use cold-moist stratification for spring planting.

• Sowing: Before spring sowing, place the nuts in a moist stratification medium and keep them refrigerated for approximately three to four months.

• Depth: Plant approximately three-quarters to one and a half inches deep after stratification.

• Spacing: Give seedlings generous spacing because mature shagbark hickory develops into a large tree.

• Sunlight: Provide full sun to light shade; young plants can tolerate some shade while establishing.

• Soil: Choose deep, fertile, well-drained soil with adequate moisture. Shagbark hickory commonly performs well on well-drained bottomland and upland soils.

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during early establishment without creating prolonged waterlogging.

• Germination: Germination can take time because the seeds have embryo dormancy. Cold stratification at approximately three degrees Celsius for about ninety to one hundred twenty days is recommended for overcoming dormancy.

• Transplanting: Transplant young seedlings carefully and preferably while small because they develop a substantial taproot.

• Fertilizing: Established trees generally perform well in fertile soil; use a balanced tree fertilizer only when soil conditions or growth indicate a need.

• Care: Mulch around young trees while keeping mulch away from the trunk. Protect young seedlings from rodents and competing vegetation.

• Maturity: Shagbark hickory is a slow-growing, long-lived tree. Seed production generally begins after many years, with substantial nut production occurring as mature trees develop.

Green Shagbark Hickory Tree Seeds | Carya Ovata

Grow Green Shagbark Hickory from seed with shaggy bark, lush foliage and sweet hickory nuts. A distinctive native tree for spacious landscapes.

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