Native Hickory Trees In Minnesota (2 Types You Must Know)
When traveling through southern states such as Georgia or Virginia, one of the most common trees to see is various types of hickories.
Hickory trees provide several advantages, including strong and durable timber for furniture and other applications, edible nuts, shade for outdoor activities, attractive foliage and bark for aesthetic value, and important ecosystem benefits such as providing habitat and food for wildlife and preventing soil erosion.
So, if you’re wondering if there are any hickory trees in Minnesota, the answer is yes. And, in this article, I’ll show you the two native hickory trees in the state, along with a detailed description.
1. Bitternut Hickory
- Common Name: Bitternut Hickory
- Scientific Name: Carya cordiformis
- Mature Height: 40 to 75 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Smooth, thin-shelled nut with a bitter kernel
- Uses: Hoops, fuel, and farm implements
Bitternut Hickory is a tall and thin tree with a green trunk and a pyramid-shaped crown. It can grow to be 75 feet tall and 25 inches in diameter.
The bark of the bitternut hickory is granite-grey in color and fragmented into thin, plate-like scales. Unlike other hickories, this tree’s bark is difficult to remove. Bitternut Hickory has compound, alternating leaves with 5 to 9 thin leaflets. The length of each leaflet is shorter than in other hickories.
Bitternut Hickory nuts are often thin-shelled, smooth, and brittle. It has a bitter kernel and a thin husk that usually separates down the side only partially. The nut is about 1 inch long and wider than it is long.
Bitternut Hickory grows in rich, damp forests in the south and reaches north to Mille Lacs via the Big Woods.
Bitternut Hickory wood is firm, robust, hefty, and reddish-brown. It is used to make hoops, fuel, and farm equipment. Although its wood quality is inferior to that of other hickories, it is nonetheless a valuable and significant tree.
2. Shagbark Hickory
- Common Name: Shagbark Hickory
- Scientific Name: Carya ovata
- Mature Height: 60 to 100 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Nuts enclosed in a thick, grooved husk
- Uses: Food by Native peoples and early settlers, making tools, furniture, and flooring.
The Shagbark Hickory trees are the tallest hickory trees in Minnesota, reaching heights of 100 feet! This tree’s bark is distinct from other hickories in that it is shaggy, light gray, and separates into thick, vertical strips that barely adhere to the tree.
The leaves of the shagbark hickory are composed of five or seven ovate leaflets that grow alternately on the stalk. These leaves turn a gorgeous yellow in the fall before dropping from the tree.
The nuts of the Shagbark Hickory are encased in a thick, grooved husk. The nuts are known as “shagbarks” because they are light in color and can be crushed or flattened.
The tasty kernels of the nuts were eaten by Native Americans and early settlers. Shagbark Hickory wood is now used to produce tools, furniture, and flooring. These trees thrive along streams and on hillsides, and they play a vital role in our natural landscape.
Hickory Trees In Minnesota – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about common and native hickory trees in Minnesota.
Are there any hickory trees in Minnesota?
Hickory trees are present in Minnesota. They are, however, not as common as in the southern states. Among the available varieties, bitternut and shagbark hickory trees are native to the state.
Shagbark Hickory is found in the southern and eastern parts of the state and is known for its distinctive shaggy bark and sweet, edible nuts. Bitternut Hickory is more common in the eastern part of the state and has smaller, more bitter nuts. Both species are valued for their wood and are important parts of Minnesota’s natural landscape.
Is pignut hickory native to Minnesota?
No, Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) is not native to Minnesota. Pignut Hickory is primarily found in the eastern and southeastern parts of the United States, from New York and Michigan down to Florida and Texas.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Minnesota’s Native Trees, Department Of Natural Sciences, Minnesota State.
- Forestry Division, Minnesota State.
- Yard And Garden, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Native Plants, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Select Trees And Shrubs For Minnesota Landscapes, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Trees and shrubs for pollinators, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Department Of Agriculture, Minnesota State.
