Missouri Hickories

Hickory is one of the most common woods in everyday use. It is heavy, hard, strong, and impact resistant. It is the preferred wood for axe, pick, hammer, and hatchet handles. Better grades of hickory are used in furniture and wall paneling.

Early settlers used hickory in the hubs, rims, and spokes of wagon wheels.

Its more savory use, however, is cooking and smoking meats. The smell of barbecue on a warm summer evening is a delight, and hickory wood provides the heat, smoke, and flavor.

There are 17 hickory species worldwide. There are two each in mainland China and Mexico. The other 15 are found in the central hardwood forest of the United States and Canada. Eight species of hickory are found in Missouri.

Hickory nuts are important food source for wildlife. Squirrels, turkeys, and ducks all feed on the nuts.

+ see more - show less
Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark hickory nuts mature in September and October.
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org

Pecan hickories and true hickories

Hickories are divided into two major groups: the pecan hickories and the true hickories. True hickories have mostly five to seven leaflets with a large egg-shaped bud at the end of each twig. Pecan hickories have more than seven sickle-shaped leaflets and an elongated, flattened terminal bud.

In Missouri, pecan, bitternut and water hickory are members of the pecan hickory group. Shagbark, shellbark, mockernut, pignut and black hickory are members of the true hickories.

+ see more - show less
Hickory Species
Bitternut Hickory

This pecan hickory is common throughout Missouri.

Black Hickory

This true hickory is is widespread south of the Missouri River. It is sometimes called the Ozark pignut hickory.

Mockernut Hickory

This true hickory is most common south of the Missouri River.

Pecan

This pecan hickory can be found statewide, except for the northwest counties.

Pignut Hickory

This true hickory is found mostly in the eastern Ozarks, but is scattered throughout southern Missouri.

Shagbark Hickory

This true hickory can be found statewide. It is the most common hickory north of the Missouri River.

Shellbark Hickory

This true hickory is scattered widely throughout the state, but is not found in the Ozarks.

Water Hickory

This pecan hickory only occurs in the swamps of the Bootheel, although they range from Texas to Virginia.