Below are listed many shagbark, shellbark, hybrid hickory and a few hican varieties that Fred Blankenship is familiar with. Fred is the Kentucky Nut Growers Association, “Chairman of Hickories” and has spent many years observing, collecting, selecting, and naming hickory varieties. He is considered one of the leading authorities on hickories in the eastern United States and has judged nut entries at the Kentucky State Fair and Pennsylvania competitions.
Fred is an avid grafter and has established many of these varieties on his farm in Cecelia Kentucky. He has freely provided scion wood to many hickory enthusiasts. These are Fred's latest variety notes, observations, and recommendations. Thanks is extended to David Hughes (Rock Bridge Trees, Bethpage, TN) for his observations on Wurth and Wilmoth and to the late John Brittain for nut descriptions in his Nolin River Nut Tree Nursery catalogue.
Shagbark hickory leaves normally have 5 leaflets, but may range from 3 to 5 while shellbark hickories have larger leaves with 7 leaflets, ranging from 5-9.
*Blankenship Bernheim Grainger #1 (BBG-1) – Fred Blankenship Bernheim Grainger seedling approximately 25 years old in 2020, good cavity, collectable.
*Blankenship Bernheim Grainger #5 (BBG-5) - Seedling of Bernheim Grainger planted by Fred Blankenship. Annual bearer, nice cavity, good flavor. Tree was approximately 25 years old in 2020.
Bridgewater - CT. A very large shagbark (8.5 grams) with 46.6% kernel. Carl Weschcke recommended this variety for the far north.
Blankenship Cook Shag - From Meade County Kentucky along Highway 79 at Midway. Thin shelled nuts that crack out whole halves. (Formerly Cook)
Crooked Creek - From Nelson County, Kentucky close to a Mitch Russell tree.
Fred's Rocket - Found in the wild. Good cavity with 2 ribs.
*Grainger - TN 1935 large (10 grams) thin shelled nut with high percent kernel. Bears heavily and produces early. Has a lobed husk with false sutures. Late foliating and one of the best varieties.
*J. Yoder #1 - Smithfield, OH. Emmet Yoder. Regular producer of very large (8.5 grams) thin shelled nuts that crack out in whole halves. Precocious and bears heavily. Alternate bearing. *Lake Icaria - Round nut with a smooth interior and a fine flavor. Very nice shagbark from Lake Icaria. Iowa.
*Lorraine - Similar and confused with Grainger, but better. Lorraine has a rounder nut, smaller suture ridge with a better filled kernel and smoother husk. It is more productive, a consistent producer with outstanding crackability. It has more foliage and larger leaves with a longer taper than Grainger. One of the best varieties.
L&N - First shagbark hickory Fred Blankenship entered in the Kentucky State Fair and won Neilson - Originated near Waterford, Ontario. Large well filled nut with moderate cracking quality. Annually productive and early maturing. Pollen sterile.