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Shellbark Hickory
Carya laciniosa · Juglandaceae
How it looks
The Shellbark Hickory is a large deciduous tree whose trunk bark peels off in thick, long, shaggy plates. The leaves are large pinnately compound leaves (5–7 leaflets) that turn yellow and brown in autumn. Round nuts (hickory nuts) appear in fall, and the tree reaches 65–115 ft (20–35 m) tall.
Shellbark Hickory is listed as non-toxic to cats by the ASPCA. An occasional nibble is unlikely to cause any real trouble.
Guide for parents
What your cat can reach is the lower leaves and stems, plus whatever has fallen to the ground. If it is standing outside in the yard, take a look at whether the space underneath is a path your cat uses often.
Fallen leaves keep piling up if left alone, so clear the side where your cat spends time now and then. If you have brought it indoors in a pot, the rim of the pot — or the tips of any trailing stems — becomes that spot instead.
Details
- Scientific name
- Carya laciniosa
- Common name
- Shellbark Hickory
- Family
- Juglandaceae
- Source
- ASPCA cats plant list
Related plants
Same plant family· Juglandaceae
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