31 Hickory Tree Facts You Should Know About The Deciduous Plant

In this article, we are about to go through some facts about the hickory tree; but before we do that, let's go through the evolutionary history of trees.

By the very end of the Devonian Period, 60 million years later, giant trees, like the now-extinct genus Archaeopteris, had spread around the world and changed it forever. And figuring out how that happened started in the '20s at a quarry in Gilboa, New York, where workers uncovered something surprising.

Buried among the rocks and dirt were sandstone casts of what looked like ancient trees dating back 390 million years. This 'fossil forest' influenced how scientists viewed the evolution of plants for decades.

Previously, they thought that the evolution of wood was an essential adaptation linked to being able to reach sunlight. As most species diversified, developing wood helped plants grow taller and break through the canopy created by their competitors.

But in 2010, a new excavation at Gilboa threw a wrench in this old hypothesis. Those so-called ancient trees weren't trees at all because they weren't made of wood, which is one of the things that makes a tree, a tree.

But the forest floor was covered with roots from a different plant that did not look like a tree at all; its roots were made of wood.

Do you want to know all about the hickory tree? Keep reading and learn all about the hickory trunk, hickory bark, hickory nuts (including precisely what makes these nuts special), and just about every other part of the trees.

Facts About The Hickory Tree

Up until now, we have learned that trees started colonizing the land millions of years ago. Let's narrow down our focus to one particular tree, the hickory tree. Listed below are some hickory tree facts that we are about to go through.

• Do hickory trees produce nuts every year? Hickory trees have a bumper crop every three years, but some production is observed every year.
• Studies have claimed that hickory trees are a member of the Carya genus.
• About 18 hickory tree species exist, out of which 12 species are native to the United States, almost five to six species are native to China, particularly Indochina and Assam in India, four of them are found in Mexico. Two to four are native to Canada.
• In the Carya genus, trees are typically blooming and bearing tree species.
• The scientific name for mockernut hickory species is Carya tomentosa; it is the most abundant of the hickories.
• The hickory tree is a valuable tree due to its hardwood and deep root system that keeps it protected from strong winds.
• Hickory trees are durable and tough, one of the most long-lived, and are said to be a frequent favorite in southern landscaping in North America.
• Hickory trees are a member of the walnut family and produce nuts common in various recipes.
• Hickory trees are deciduous and have colorful leaves during the fall. Both male and female flowers can be obtained from these trees.
• Red hickory has a scientific name which is Carya ovalis.

Hickory Tree's Uses

Almost every tree on the planet has some uses. What differs is some have primary benefits, whereas some have minor benefits. Below are some of the claimed usefulness of the hickory tree.

• What are hickory trees suitable for? The hickory wood or hardwood obtained from the hickory tree's bark is valuable in building furniture and smoking meat.
• Although the nuts obtained from these trees are useful to humans, several wildlife creatures like squirrels, birds, and deer prefer these nuts.
• Some hickory species like shagbark hickory, mockernut hickory, shellbark hickory, and pecan are types of hickories that produce edible sweet nuts.
• These tasty nuts are claimed to be an excellent source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibers, zinc, phosphorus, minerals such as manganese, and vitamins of the B group.
• Nuts obtained from hickories can be consumed as an ingredient of various industrial candies and sweet desserts or as a snack.
• For the production of edible syrup, bark from the shagbark hickory tree is utilized.
• Studies have claimed that regular consumption of pecan nuts is beneficial for human health, the nuts aid in lowering blood cholesterol levels and many nutritional benefits.
• Pecan nuts have also proved beneficial for muscle and nervous tissue health as they can help prevent neuromuscular degeneration.
• Hickory wood is durable, hard, and dense, and it was used for the production of aircraft in the past.

Hickory Tree's Identification

It can sometimes be confusing to identify different trees when most of their appearances are almost the same. Here are some of the ways to help you identify the hickory trees from the rest of the trees.

• What does a hickory tree look like? And what color does hickory have? Hickory trees have deeply furrowed brown or gray bark.
• Hickory trees can grow up to 2-3 ft (61-91 cm) wide and 60-80 ft (18-24 m) in height.
• The common species with wide crowns are shellbark hickory, shagbark hickory, bitternut, and pignut hickory.
• Hickories produce pinnate leaves comprising 3-17 oval leaflets with tips pointed in shape.
• Due to the dense layer of the fine hairs, the bottom side of the leaves is pale in color, whereas the upper side of the leaves is observed to be yellowish-green in color.
• The hickory tree is a monoecious plant where both female and male flowers develop separately on each tree.
• Male flowers are yellow-green catkins, whereas female flowers compose 2-10 individual flowers and are arranged in terminal spikes.
• Pignut hickory trees comprise pale to dark gray bark, are sometimes shaggy, and have a smooth to furrowed texture.
• Shagbark hickory bark is mostly light-colored and very shaggy, consisting of long and loose strips.
• Is hickory tree poisonous? Some species of hickory nuts are poisonous to humans, and some are mildly toxic to canines.

Hickory Tree's Habitat

Every species have a unique habitat that is decent and suitable for its growth. Hickories also have their own personal habitats. Listed below are some facts about the places and habitats suitable for the growth of hickory trees.

• Where do hickory trees grow best? Hickory trees are mainly found in floodplains and moist bottomlands, which are the primary growth areas for these trees.
• Although ordinarily known in Indiana, hickories are native to many states in the USA.
• Hickories require well-drained, rich soil and full sun for their overall optimal growth.
• Hickories are known to bloom at the time of spring.
• Hickories are wind-pollinated trees that do not perform self-pollination.
• Pollination needs to be exchanged between two hickory trees to ensure successful pollination.
• Hickory trees are claimed to survive around a few hundred years in the wild.
• Studies have claimed that pecan trees can bear fruits even at the age of 300 years.
• Red hickory is said to be a fairly uncommon hickory that is native to eastern North America.
• Ideal hickory habitats include moderately humid climates.
• The least and most humid climates in their habitats are observed in February and August, with 44.8% relative humidity and 67% humidity, respectively.
• How long does a hickory tree live? An estimated average lifespan of hickory trees is 200 years, give or take.