Carya laciniosa aka Kingnut

Carya laciniosa, or shellbark hickory, belongs to the walnut family. This large tree loses its leaves each fall. Its home range spans southeast Canada and the central and eastern United States. It grows in low woods and along streams and floodplains. Many stands lie near the Ohio and upper Mississippi rivers. Garden trees reach 60–80 feet [18.3–24.4 metres] tall. Some trees reach 100–120 feet [30.5–36.6 metres]. The narrow, rounded crown spans 40–60 feet [12.2–18.3 metres].

The trunk grows straight, and the tree grows slowly. Young bark is gray, with shallow ridges across its surface. Age loosens long bark plates, which give the trunk its shaggy look. This bark adds interest when winter leaves the branches bare. Brown young twigs have orange lenticels and lose their early hairs. The leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the twigs. Each pinnate leaf has five to nine leaflets, most often seven. The dark green leaflets have pointed tips and fine teeth. Fall turns them yellow, then shades of golden brown.

Yellow-green flowers appear from April through May. Each tree bears both male catkins and small female clusters. The thick green fruit husk turns brown as it ripens. It then splits into four parts around a tan nut. Nuts mature in fall, but their thick shells resist cracking. Trees may take 10–20 years to begin bearing nuts. Cross-pollination can improve both crop size and nut quality. The sweet kernels suit raw eating, baking, and cooked dishes. Spring sap can yield syrup or sugar when boiled down.

Give this tree full sun, though it accepts some shade. It needs ample room and rich soil with humus. Loam or silt suits it, with moist to wet conditions. It tolerates brief floods in spring on low ground. Sources list hardiness in USDA zones 5–8. Its deep taproot makes moving an established tree hard. Large lawns, natural areas, and pond edges suit its scale. Deer browse its leaves, while birds and mammals eat its nuts. Its leaves also feed hickory horndevil larvae.

Fallen nuts, leaves, and twigs can make the ground messy. Weevils and shuckworms may cut the nut crop. Bark beetles, borers, and twig girdlers can also cause trouble. Occasional diseases include heart rot, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. Leaf spots, catkin blight, and crown gall may occur. People use its wood for handles, furniture, and fuel. ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.