Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) is a tree that has a bark that is unmistakable. A tree that can be identified even during a season that is often a challenge to figure out which tree is which species – during the winter. And though I’m not a fan of common names, this one is certainly appropriate, at least for trees with a few years of growth to their credit. Younger trees aren’t shaggy.

Shagbark Hickory is found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada. If things go well for the tree, a Shagbark Hickory can grow to be 150 feet tall, and can live to be 350 years old.

Lots of these hickories up here on my mountain. Their leaves are gone now, but it’s easy to tell what species of tree they are, because of that bark. That’s good. I can use all the help I can get.

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