Hickory trees are a group of deciduous hardwood trees that are native to North America.
They are prized for their strong and durable wood, large delicious nuts, and sweet syrupy sap.
There are 18 species of hickory trees, 12 of which are native to North America.
In Alabama, there are five types of hickory trees that are native to the state: mockernut hickory, shagbark hickory, pignut hickory, bitternut hickory, and water hickory.
Each type of hickory tree has its own unique characteristics, and all are prized for their strong and durable wood.
Here are the key takeaways about hickory trees in Alabama:
- There are five types of hickory trees native to Alabama: mockernut hickory, shagbark hickory, pignut hickory, bitternut hickory, and water hickory.
- Each type of hickory tree has its own unique characteristics, and all are prized for their strong and durable wood, large delicious nuts, and sweet syrupy sap.
- Hickory trees have bark that forms ridges in a vertical pattern, which may be shallow or deep, far apart or close together, but always vertical.
- The nuts of the mockernut hickory are large and round, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack. The nuts of the shagbark hickory are large and oval-shaped, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack. The nuts of the pignut hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack. The nuts of the bitternut hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack. The nuts of the water hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
- Hickory trees grow to between 60 and 100 feet tall with a spread of up to 40 feet.
- The best hickory trees for nut production are shagbark hickories, shellbark hickories, or pecan trees.
- If you are interested in planting hickory trees in your yard, be sure to choose a variety that is well-suited to your climate and soil conditions. When established, it is best to fertilize hickories every year, either in the fall or in the spring.
Mockernut Hickory
Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) is a large deciduous tree that is native to the eastern United States, including Alabama.
It is also known as white hickory, bigleaf shagbark, and whiteheart hickory.
The tree can grow up to 100 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet.
The bark of the mockernut hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and shaggy as the tree ages.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with 7 to 9 leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface.
The nuts of the mockernut hickory are large and round, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack.
Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is a large deciduous tree that is native to the eastern United States, including Alabama.
It is also known as shellbark hickory, kingnut, and scalybark hickory.
The tree can grow up to 100 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet.
The bark of the shagbark hickory is gray and shaggy, peeling away from the trunk in long strips.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with 5 to 7 leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface.
The nuts of the shagbark hickory are large and oval-shaped, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack.
Pignut Hickory
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that is native to the southeastern United States, including Alabama.
It is also known as sweet pignut, smoothbark hickory, and coast pignut hickory.
The tree can grow up to 80 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 2 feet.
The bark of the pignut hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with 5 to 7 leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface.
The nuts of the pignut hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
Bitternut Hickory
Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that is native to the eastern United States, including Alabama.
It is also known as swamp hickory, pignut hickory, and yellowbud hickory.
The tree can grow up to 80 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 2 feet.
The bark of the bitternut hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with 7 to 11 leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface.
The nuts of the bitternut hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
Water Hickory
Water hickory (Carya aquatica) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that is native to the southeastern United States, including Alabama.
It is also known as bitter water hickory, swamp hickory, and coast pignut hickory.
The tree can grow up to 80 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 2 feet.
The bark of the water hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with 7 to 9 leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface.
The nuts of the water hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
How Do You Identify a Hickory Tree In Alabama?
Here are some ways to identify a hickory tree in Alabama:
Look at the bark
The bark of hickory trees is gray and forms ridges in a vertical pattern. The ridges may be shallow or deep, far apart or close together, but always vertical.
The bark of the mockernut hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and shaggy as the tree ages.
The bark of the shagbark hickory is gray and shaggy, peeling away from the trunk in long strips.
The bark of the pignut hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages.
The bark of the bitternut hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages.
The bark of the water hickory is gray and smooth when young, but it becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages.
Examine the leaves
Hickory leaves are long with several leaflets growing in oppositional pairs.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with 5 to 11 leaflets that are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface.
The leaves of the mockernut hickory have 7 to 9 leaflets.
The leaves of the shagbark hickory have 5 to 7 leaflets.
The leaves of the pignut hickory have 5 to 7 leaflets.
The leaves of the bitternut hickory have 7 to 11 leaflets. The leaves of the water hickory have 7 to 9 leaflets.
Check the nuts
Hickory nuts are large and round or oval-shaped, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack.
The nuts of the mockernut hickory are large and round, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack.
The nuts of the shagbark hickory are large and oval-shaped, with a thick, hard shell that is difficult to crack.
The nuts of the pignut hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
The nuts of the bitternut hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
The nuts of the water hickory are small and round, with a thin, hard shell that is easy to crack.
Consider the size
Hickory trees grow to between 60 and 100 feet tall with a spread of up to 40 feet.
