Q&A for How to Identify Hickory Trees

Hickory leaves are compounded, which means they are comprised of several leaflets paired on opposite sides of what looks like a stem but is actually a leaf’s midrib (central vein).

Hickory trees are renowned for their nuts, which are enclosed in round or oval green husks while they ripen.

Black walnuts are quite large in comparison to hickory nuts. When looking at a black walnut, it will most likely be coated in a green, powdery looking substance. Hickory nuts do not have this outer coating. Black walnuts also have a distinctly chambered pith.

A hickory tree should never be topped. Doing so will ruin its form. Hickories should only grow where a big tree is desired.

No., Hickory trees, like a lot of trees, do not reliably produce abundant crops of seeds every year. This is most likely a result of environmental factors like late frosts.

Yes, if it's ingested. Check for signs of sickness. Discuss with a vet if you see any problems.

No. A hickory tree's leaves are always directly opposite one another and with one on the end making groups of odd numbers with the largest of the leaves at the very tip of the branch.

Yes, hickory trees produce sap.

Absolutely not. Hickory is commonly used to smoke bacon and other pork products.

Yes. I live in New Hampshire where the temperatures are below freezing almost all winter long. The species that I have living on my property is the Shagbark Hickory.

If you eat a tung oil nut, you will most likely die. Tung oil nuts are highly toxic.

Like most wood, what you cut this year, you burn next year. So 1 year, or at least 6 months if the wood has been split so as to open the grain for drying.

Read the above story on how to identify your hickory tree. It is sure to tell you what you have.

Hickory trees grow east of the Mississippi River. A type of hickory, the pecan, is native to southern states, and grows west of the Mississippi and as far south as Texas.

Perhaps your tree is sick or malnourished. Take care to fertilize and water it for the next few weeks and see what happens.

You should see a five-sided or star-shaped figure in the center of the stump that is tan colored.

Possibly a kingnut? I live in Ontario, Canada and it sure sounds like mine; it has green nuts in clumps and the tree grew very fast and big.

There are various types of Hickory, but most can live many, many years (over 350).

In the fall, usually October-November as the leaves are dying off and falling and the tree prepares for the winter months ahead. The nuts will begin falling off the trees as they dry, and sometimes they will be dry enough that the outer shell will fall off of the nut as it hits the ground and the bare nut will be laying on the ground ready to be cracked.

Yes, but it depends on if the tree was in a grove of trees or standing by itself and exposed to a lot of wind. If the exposed tree is cut, it may have what is called ''wind shake'' and warpage in the wood, making it less desirable to mill or use. If you like to make bows or hunting weapons, almost all mature hickory will do very well.

Obviously, you don't ingest Hickory nuts, and I would avoid meats that had been smoked with hickory.

That sounds very much like a pecan tree. Hickory nuts are round with a very hard shell, where are pecans are oblong with a point on the end and are no more than 1/8 inch shell thickness.

You can. All you have to do is pick off the early setting nuts, to as few as you like. Although, it’s likely the squirrels will eat a bunch, it may be best to leave extra nuts on the tree.

Yes. Hickory is considered a hardwood and is excellent for burning in a fireplace or wood-stove. It is a popular choice for smoking food.

Yes; it makes the meat sweeter than smoking with hickory wood chips.

All parts of the hickory tree have almost a soapy/lemony smell. Crush a leaf or split a nut and the aroma will be very apparent.