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Shagbark Hickory

If you enjoy Blue Jays, you'll want to plant at least one hickory tree in your yard. The nut of the hickory - maturing from September to October - is sweet and delicious, and must be considered a delicacy to jays who seem to flock to it constantly when ripened. You'll have to wait a few years though, nut production does not start for 20 years! Virtually disease free, Shagbark Hickory prefers deep, moist, rich, well-drained soils under sunny conditions, but is often found in the dry upland soils of woods or fields because of its superior drought tolerance. It tolerates the shade of nearby trees when young, when its branching is upright and spindly and it first develops its deep taproot system.