Flowering TreesShagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) is a slow-growing flowering tree, hardy in USDA zones 4-8, that matures to about 70-90 ft × 50-70 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with medium water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect yellow and green blooms in spring. It attracts butterflies, moths and pollinators, stands up well to black walnut, deer and fire.
- USDA zones
- 4-8
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 70-90 ft × 50-70 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry
- Bloom color
- Yellow, Green
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Moths, Pollinators, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Black walnut, Deer, Fire
- Native to
- Eastern North America
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Shagbark Hickory is hardy to about -30°F (estimated from USDA zone 4), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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