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Pignut hickory identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Pignut hickory, Carya glabra, 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 8 to 12 inches long, usually with 5 toothed leaflets on a smooth stem. Bark: Light gray with close, interlacing ridges that can look a little shaggy on top. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify pignut hickory
| Leaf type | Alternate, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long, usually with 5 toothed leaflets on a smooth stem. |
| Bark | Light gray with close, interlacing ridges that can look a little shaggy on top. |
| Fruit | Pear-shaped nuts 1 to 2 inches long in a thin husk that only splits partway. |
| Twigs | Smooth, fairly slender twigs. |
| Size and shape | Straight trunk and rounded crown; can pass 100 feet. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is pignut hickory native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists pignut hickory as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like pignut hickory
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Red hickory Carya ovalis | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long, usually with 7 finely toothed leaflets; the leaf stalk is often red. |
| Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 7 to 10 inches long with 7 to 11 narrow, toothed leaflets. |
| 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. |
| Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa | Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 9 to 14 inches long with 7 to 9 toothed leaflets on a very fuzzy stem. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other hickories in Pennsylvania
Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa).
Questions
How do you identify pignut hickory?
Look for alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long, usually with 5 toothed leaflets on a smooth stem. Bark: Light gray with close, interlacing ridges that can look a little shaggy on top.
Is pignut hickory native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists pignut hickory as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does pignut hickory get?
Straight trunk and rounded crown; can pass 100 feet.
How can you tell pignut hickory in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Smooth, fairly slender twigs. Bark: Light gray with close, interlacing ridges that can look a little shaggy on top.
What tree looks like pignut hickory?
Red hickory, Bitternut hickory, Shagbark hickory, Mockernut hickory. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Carya glabra fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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