Common Name: Shagbark Hickory
Latin Name: Carya ovata
Address: 909 Belmont Ave., Charlottesville
GPS Coordinates: 38.0236349,-78.4774738
The shagbark hickory is a native tree named for its distinctive bark, which peels away in large, flat, curling plates to create a shaggy appearance. A member of the walnut family, it produces sweet, flavorful edible nuts that are prized by both people and wildlife. This long-lived deciduous tree commonly reaches more than 100 feet (30 m) in height and can survive for over 350 years.
Although shagbark hickory is admired for its beauty and ecological value, it is rarely planted as an ornamental tree because of its large mature size, slow growth, difficulty of transplanting, and the abundance of nuts it drops. This notable tree is at the curb at 909 Belmont Ave in Charlottesville. Drive by to admire its impressive form.
For an up-close experience with Shagbark hickories, enter the nature trail at the Virginia Department of Forestry building across the parking lot from the State Police. You can see two great examples of a tree that is not very common in Charlottesville (38.021842,-78.533296).