Also, is it worthwhile, or are they so prone to disease it isn't worth the effort? My land survey revealed many red, black and chestnut oaks, but NO hickory trees. I'd like to plant some if they'll live and not take 50 years to drop nuts.

Thanks!

Doug, I would say between 12-15yrs.

C. ovata (Mill.) K. Koch. Shagbark hickory

Shagbark hickory is a large (to 39 m), slow-growing, long-lived deciduous hardwood tree that is native to North America. It produces edible nuts that are consumed by humans and wildlife, and excellent fuel and wood products.

Thanks! Do you know how hardy they are, or if bears will rip down any tree shelters?

Aaron, Jason and Richard planted 5 of these in the 05/97.
6-12 in. trees (not including taproot)...I paid $6.50 each
These are seedlings of an extremely cold-hardy local shagbark from the Ashworth plantings. The nuts fill well, are sweet and have relatively thin shells. Hickories put most of their beginning growth into their very substantial taproot, so many of these have a longer root than top!
I planted four more in Spring of 1998 .
[align=left]Fruits: Usually spherical, up to 2 inches across; the husk yellow-green to red-brown, up to 1/2 inch thick, splitting all the way to the base; the nut 4-angled. [/align][align=left]Notes: The kernels of the nuts are extremely tasty. [/align]

My Shagbark trees started having crops after 10 - 15 years and are now bearing fair crops at 20 years. In my opinion the nicest nuts are the Kingnut hickories. They do great in my bottomland clay soil.

Dan O.