Hickory Seeds - Shagbark
**Orders containing large seeds are only eligible for parcel shipping rates.**
(Carya ovata) Deciduous. Zones 4-8.
Hickory nut is arguably the finest native nut! Its sweet, smoky flavour is like a cross between a walnut a pecan, and it is a superior substitute in baking and salads. Toasting especially intensifies its rich flavour!
Shagbark Hickory is a majestic giant that can live for up to 200 years! Plant it now and future generations will enjoy sitting in its shade and foraging for nuts.
As the Shagbark matures, its smooth gray bark becomes beautifully textured and shaggy - a striking presence year-round. The greenish yellow Spring flowers of the Shagbark Hickory give way to sweet, edible oval-rounded nuts, encased in a thick green husk that splits when ripe.
Of course these delectable nuts are also favoured by squirrels, raccoons, and other wildlife.
Cross-pollination generally produces a more abundant crop of better quality nuts so its best to plant two trees.
Hickory wood is widely used to cure and smoke meats. It is extremely strong and makes heirloom quality tool handles, ladders, and furniture.
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Cold Hardiness: Zones 4 - 8
Edible: Yes
Size: Large Tree
Growth Rate: Medium
Nitrogen Fixer: No
Native Plant: Yes
Germination: 70 - 90%
Sun Requirements: Full Sun for maximum harvest, but shade tolerant.
Soil Preference: Rich, moist, well draining. Tolerant of clay.
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GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
- Soak seeds for 4 days, replacing water every 24 hrs. Follow with 120 days cold, moist stratification. For more information on stratification, check out our article "How To Stratify Tree Seeds".
*If you are doing the cold period in your fridge, please check on your seeds. 120 days is an estimate & they may sprout sooner.*
- Plant stratified seeds in deep pots or a nursery bed using standard potting soil. Heat mats are NOT required & can hinder germination!
* Hickories send down a MASSIVE taproot so don't let them get too big in a nursery bed. Taproots can damage easily and a broken taproot can weaken or kill a young tree. *
- Protect young tree seedlings from slugs, cutworms & rodents. Slugs especially can eat primary leaves as soon as they come up, so be vigilant!
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Available direct from Incredible Seeds, a Canadian Heirloom and Heritage Seed Company, offering only the best natural, non-GMO, open pollinated and untreated seeds, located in Mi'kma'ki / Nova Scotia.
