Shagbark hickory (upland hickory) - Carya ovata

Identification: The shagbark hickory can be identified by its smoky-gray bark that peels away in long, curling plates. A member of the walnut family, hickories produce small nuts edible by humans and animals. Leaves are compound, made of five leaflets – three large ones on the end of a stem, with two smaller ones below it.

Height: 40-100 feet 

Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zones 4-9.

Wildlife value: Hickory nuts are a food source for small mammals including squirrels and chipmunks. Hickories are often nest sites for cavity-nesting birds and songbirds.

Uses: Hickory wood is extremely hard and has traditionally been used to make items including tool handles, skis and wagon wheels.