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Mockernut hickory identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Mockernut hickory, Carya tomentosa, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 9 to 14 inches long with 7 to 9 toothed leaflets on a very fuzzy stem. Bark: Light gray with rounded, interlaced ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify mockernut hickory
| Leaf type | Alternate, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Compound leaves 9 to 14 inches long with 7 to 9 toothed leaflets on a very fuzzy stem. |
| Bark | Light gray with rounded, interlaced ridges. Never shaggy or peeling. |
| Fruit | Nuts 1 1/2 to 2 inches long in a thick husk that splits cleanly; strongly four-ridged. |
| Twigs | Stout, fuzzy twigs with leaf scars that look like a monkey face. |
| Size and shape | Straight trunk and rounded crown; can pass 100 feet. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is mockernut hickory native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists mockernut hickory as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like mockernut hickory
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Pignut hickory Carya glabra | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long, usually with 5 toothed leaflets on a smooth stem. |
| Shagbark hickory Carya ovata | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 14 inches long, usually with 5 leaflets; the end leaflet is much bigger than the side ones. |
| Shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa | Alternate, compound leaves. Big compound leaves 15 to 24 inches long with 5 to 9 (usually 7) leaflets, fuzzy underneath. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other hickories in Pennsylvania
Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), Red hickory (Carya ovalis).
Questions
How do you identify mockernut hickory?
Look for alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 9 to 14 inches long with 7 to 9 toothed leaflets on a very fuzzy stem. Bark: Light gray with rounded, interlaced ridges.
Is mockernut hickory native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists mockernut hickory as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does mockernut hickory get?
Straight trunk and rounded crown; can pass 100 feet.
How can you tell mockernut hickory in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Stout, fuzzy twigs with leaf scars that look like a monkey face. Bark: Light gray with rounded, interlaced ridges.
What tree looks like mockernut hickory?
Pignut hickory, Shagbark hickory, Shellbark hickory. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Carya tomentosa fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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