Southern Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata var. australis
- Native to:
- United States
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- Carya ovata var. australis
- USDA Symbol:
- CACA38
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow-green
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrobasis caryalbella, Acrobasis kearfottella, Acrobasis palliolella, Acrobasis stigmella, Agonopterix eupatoriiella, Angus' Underwing (Catocala angusi), dejected underwing (Catocala dejecta), Dichomeris ligulella, Epione underwing (Catocala epione), habilis underwing (Catocala habilis), hickory leafroller moth (Argyrotaenia juglandana), hickory shoot borer (Acrobasis caryae), Hickory shuckworm (Cydia caryana), hickory shuckworm moth (Pseudexentera caryana), Himella fidelis, Judith's Underwing (Catocala judith), Luna moth (Actias luna), mourning underwing (Catocala flebilis), Obscure Underwing (Catocala obscura), Old Wife Underwing (Catocala palaeogama), pecan cigar casebearer (Coleophora laticornella), pecan leafminer (Cameraria caryaefoliella), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), reflexella leafroller moth (Psilocorsis reflexella), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), residual underwing (Catocala residua), Robinson's underwing (Catocala robinsonii), Serene Underwing (Catocala serena), Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Tearful Underwing (Catocala lacrymosa), Widow Underwing (Catocala vidua), Yellow-Banded Underwing (Catocala retecta), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), hickory hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorum)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- squirrels, chipmunks, deer, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, jays
- Fall Color:
- golden yellow, orange
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers deep, fertile soils in floodplains
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds should be kept moist during stratification. Fall planting outdoors allows natural stratification. Germination can be erratic and extended.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Source: Claude AI