One of the most massive tree species in my forest, and one of three Hickory species (the other two being Pignut Hickory and Mockernut Hickory). The Red Hickory is distinguished from the other two species by having smooth (non-hairy) leaves with 5 or often 7 leaflets (Pignut Hickory usually has 5 leaflets, and Mockernut Hickory often has 9 leaflets), and slightly more flaky bark than the Pignut Hickory. The fruits of the Red Hickory are usually rounded, with thin, rough-surfaced husks that split easily all the way to the base. In contrast, the fruits of the Pignut Hickory are pear-shaped with smooth husks, and the fruits of the Mockernut Hickory have smooth, much thicker husks. My biggest Red Hickory is at the top of the access road at the edge of a small cleared area. The circumference at chest-height is 9 ft, 10.75 inches. It has a hole at the base, suggesting it may be hollow inside.
During the first year I owned Lot A, I had another very large Red Hickory, just north of the rough driveway to the cleared area, which measured 9ft, 11.5 inches in circumference. The first picture below shows this emergent tree in the spring of 2021, already leaning toward the direction it fell. It had a hole at the base which went all the way through to the other side.
Then, in October 2021, I arrived to see that this magnificent tree had snapped in half about 15 feet up the trunk (see first picture below). I'm guessing the interior was completely hollow. The exact same thing happened to another Red Hickory in the middle of Lot C (second picture below). It seems my Red Hickories may have an intrinsic weakness.
There is a very nice Red Hickory standing next to the road where I park my car. Its circumference is 6ft 4.5".
There is another very large Red Hickory upslope near the western edge of Lot A. Its circumference is 9ft 3".
...and another big specimen near the NE corner of Lot C (near an equally large Pignut Hickory). Its circumference is 6ft 6.25".
There is another large Red Hickory just inside the NE corner of lot C. It has a conservation area sign attached to it, although it is fully within my boundary. Its circumference is 6ft 4".
Another Red Hickory is located downslope to the north of the ridge on Lot 9. Its circumference is 5ft 7.75".
A couple of Red Hickories grow around the NE corner of Lot A (circumference 5ft 1.25") and the SE corner of Lot B (circumference 5ft 10").
Another nice, pale-barked Red Hickory stands just upslope north of the primitive driveway on Lot A, circumference 5ft 5".
Fruit from my largest Red Hickory tree are shown in the first picture below. The second picture below shows fruit from different Red Hickory trees (right) next to Pignut Hickory fruit (upper left) and Mockernut Hickory fruit (lower left).