During the winter when there is little to use to identify a tree, the bark is often the place to go to get that identity.

Two trees that grow here in the Blue Ridge Mountains that can offer a bit of confusion, due to each having shaggy bark are shown here in these eight photographs.

The first 4 images are of Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) with its bark which comes off in large pieces. Keep scale in mind. This tree is not shy about shedding its bark in a big way.

The Shagbark Hickory grows in the eastern United States and southeast Canada. It is a large tree that can attain a height of 100 feet and can live to be more than 350 years of age.

These next 4 photos are are Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). Think smaller scale. As you can see above, not all of the Hop-hornbeams shed their bark.

The Hop-hornbeam, a small understory tree, reaches a height of 25 to 40 feet, and lives an average of 50 to 150 years.

The “hops” in its common name is because of the tree’s fruit which resembles the fruit of the hops plant which is used in beer making.

The Hop-hornbeam is also a shreddy tree but not only is it a smaller tree, it’s shreds are also smaller. Think delicate in appearance as compared to the Shagbark Hickory.