​The shagbark hickory is common in the eastern United States. It is a deciduous tree that can grow over 100 feet tall and live for more than 200 years. The bark is very shaggy on older trees; younger trees’ bark is smooth. The leaves are anywhere from 1 to 2 feet long, with usually five leaflets on one leaf. The nut of the tree is edible and tastes sweet. The nut is a popular food for people and squirrels, but because it takes a long time for the tree to produce a sizable crop, the food is not commercially harvested. The wood of this hickory tree is used for fine flooring, tool handles, ladders, and furniture.