Carya ovata, shagbark hickory, is a large deciduous tree that typically grows 70 to 90 feet tall (infrequently to 120 feet) with an irregular, oval-rounded crown. It is native from Quebec to Minnesota, south to Georgia and Texas. Trunks mature to 2 to 3 feet in diameter. This tree features smooth, medium yellow-green, odd-pinnate, compound leaves, each having 5 (less frequently 7 or 9) finely-toothed, broadly lance-shaped, pointed leaflets. Leaflets range from 3 to 7 inches long. They turn yellow to golden-brown in fall. Non-showy, monoecious, greenish-yellow flowers appear in April to May; the male flowers in pendulous catkins (to 3 to 5 inches long) and the female flowers in short spikes. Female flowers give way to edible oval-rounded nuts. Each nut is encased in a moderately thick husk, which splits open in four sections when ripe in fall. Nuts were an important food source to Native Americans and early settlers and are sold commercially today. Nuts are attractive to a variety of wildlife. Bark of young trees is gray and smooth but exfoliates in long strips with age. The exfoliation is more recurved and pronounced than on the similar looking shellbark hickory (see C. laciniosa).

Hickory wood is often used to cure/smoke meats. It is also an excellent firewood/fuel. The wood is extremely hard and is used to make a variety of products, including tool handles, ladders, gun stocks, and furniture. Andrew Jackson, 7th president of the U. S., was affectionately known as Old Hickory in recognition of his tough character.

This tree has no serious insect or disease problems. However, hickory bark beetle, pecan weevil, and twig girdler can be problems in some areas of its range. Anthracnose and leaf spot are occasional diseases. Large trees can produce considerable litter by twig, leaf, and fruit (nut) drop.