Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), is native to Eastern North America. It produces delicious, high calorie, nutrient dense nuts that taste reminiscent of pecans and Maple syrup.The nuts can be blended in the shell and boiled in water to make a delicious traditional indigenous beverage called Hickory milk.

The tree also produces excellent shock-absorptive wood making it a great timber tree for tools and baseball bats. Hickories provide high BTU firewood as well. 

Works cited:

Shagbark hickory: Another tasty local nut. (2013, November 11). MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/shagbark_hickory_another_tasty_local_nut

Shagbark Hickory | Duke Gardens. (2024). Duke.edu. https://gardens.duke.edu/garden-talk/shagbark-hickory/

BONAP’s Map. (2026). Bonap.net. https://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=13091&locationType=County&mapType=Normal