Hickory Trees in Maine: Yes, Three Native Species Thrive

Hickories (Carya spp.) are indeed native to Maine, though less abundant than in the Midwest or Mid-Atlantic. Three species occur naturally, primarily in southern and central Maine (York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec counties).

Native Species

1. Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata): Most common. Distinctive shaggy bark peeling in long strips. Sweet, edible nuts. Upland woods, well-drained soils.
2. Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis): Smooth, gray bark; bright yellow buds. Nuts bitter, inedible. Prefers moist bottomlands, stream banks.
3. Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra): Tight, ridged bark; pear-shaped nuts (variable palatability). Dry ridges, slopes. Least common in Maine.

Ecological Role

• Mast crop: Nuts feed squirrels, chipmunks, turkey, deer, bear, mice.
• Host plants: Larvae of hickory horned devil (royal walnut moth), banded hairstreak butterfly, many beetles.
• Wood: Dense, hard, high shock resistance → tool handles, flooring, smoking meat.

Identification Tips

• Compound leaves (5–9 leaflets), alternate.
• Terminal bud large, scaly (valvate in bitternut).
• Nut husk splits to base (shagbark, pignut) or partially (bitternut).

Climate Change Note

Hickories may expand northward in Maine as winters warm. Planting them now (sourced locally) aids assisted migration.