Hybrid Hickory Variety Recommendations and Propagation Trials

There is a lot to still learn but two years of evaluations have been done and many successful epicotyl grafts.

These are the lessons for hickory epicotyl grafting:

• 78F-85F hotbox temp setting. Lower or higher causes severe take rate reduction
• light requirements for budbreak have not been tested. I have always kept my grafts in a greenhouse.
• 50% cheeswax, 50% beeswax with NO oil mixed in. Oil kills cambium. Wax whole epicotyl. If inverted radical grafting, wax a bit past the graft union.
• Melon and tomato grafting clips. I use red tomato clips but clear melon clips may be required for thicker stems
• Aligning one side only of the scion to the stock
• Shagbark rootstock or dominant shag rootstock genetics produce thicker epicotyl. Bitternut produce notably thinner epicotyl. Pecan remains untested but will be tested 2026 spring.
• Inverted radical grafting produced a nearly identical take rate as epicotyl grafting.
• Cleft grafting close to the nut on the epicotyl or about 2" away from the nut for inverted radical.
• Burying the whole graft union and clip so no epicotyl/radical is above soil level
• Use thick to typical (not skinny) scion with large buds. Skinny sticks and small buds drastically reduce take rate and increase days to bud break
• Non-terminal buds. Terminals are okay but prone to breaking bud prior to adequate callus formation causing collapse of the graft union.
• Radicals of both bitternut and shagbark are approximately 50% thicker than their epicotyls.
• Inverted radical grafting allows for more complete use of stock nuts by allowing for grafting of nuts that are delayed and have not yet developed epicotyls in addition to allowing for grafting of nuts with too thin of epicotyls.
• The highest take rate group was from a scion called 'Swaim' at 70% take. 50% was typical.
• The take rate on bitternut was very poor between 5-10%. This may not be the case if bitternut scion is used.
• Full sun exposure on the tree where the scion was collected appears to be a major factor in graft success.
• Use one large bud on the scion graft
• Once the grafts are adequitely callused and the risk of frost has past, it is sufficient to plant the grafts in the ground outside. Strong hickory epicotyl grafts are capable of overwintering in Wisconsin after their first season. Ensure that the grafts are protected from rodents as the nuts are still edible the for much of the first season as they support the seedlings growth.
• Scion shoot extension was typically 1" and at most 3-4". This seemed to be related to specific highly vigorous varieties, esp Benchpress which is one of the best grafters with vigorous growth on pecan stock using traditional grafting methods as well.
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• It appears, but still needs to be proven, that vigorously growing shoot on the scion source likely from the apically dominant portion of the tree may produce longer shoots on the graft.
• It appears, but still needs to be proven, that the number of compound leaves of the scions growth may be determined in the bud on the scion source tree rather than the rootstock or graft quality.
• Further research should be done on pecan and shagbark/pecan hybrid rootstock for additional vigor of the graft. Graft shoot extension rate is a problem and I have not seen enough un-transplanted epicotyl graft successes to know if they grow quickly in year two. I would hypothesize that year one on pecan vs shagbark would be similar growth but year two would be longer growth on pecan rootstock. Pecan seedlings generally put on two flushes of growth in my nursery their first year of about 9" each and shagbarks almost always put on only one 5" flush of growth in my nursery in the first year. 

See 2025s epicotyl grafting data below. Note that each variety had its own context that yielded the lessons above:

As for general lessons learned from evaluations:

• Soil fertility and tree air space affect nut production heavily so evaluations must be made while knowing fertility and context
• Some trees drastically change kernel percentage from year to year. Others are quite consistent. I observe 7% kernel change between seasons on some trees. 2-3% kernel change between seasons is typical.
• Some trees do have a natural affinity towards heavy bearing but the limit appears to be in how much kernel can be produced, not nut weight including shell as shell seems to be low cost to the tree. Husk thickness may be a major factor affecting bearing.
• Yield evals should be done over a 5 year period and severe weather can affect yield consistency drastically; Weschcke is a known annual heavy bearer and it has not born more than a couple dozen nuts the past three years in River Falls, WI on a 60 year old tree.
• There are 40 or so trees that are highly interesting between the Weschcke and Badgersett population that deserve replication and further study in a single context.
• There are some hybrids with shellbark included in them that we have confirmed with genetic testing. The signs of these hybrids are are generally very early pollen receptivity compared to the population, hairy stems, excellent anthracnose resistance in the fall, green leaves later in the fall, late or very late ripening nuts, and thick husks. Interestingly, these nuts tend to have a higher than average kernel percentage, many of which are around 50% kernel. It is possible that bitternut introgression was not detected in these trees though it is the cause of shell thinness and it is possible that shag shell hybrids express a trait not in either parent of these very thin shells. The genetic testing suggested that these were F1 shag shells. It is difficult to assess the productivity of these trees in an assertive way at badgersett due to very low pollen shed during this early receptivity period which may prevent pollination and therefor cause low yield. Additionally, some of these trees appear to abort stigmas prior to receptivity likely due to an incompatibility within the trees own genetics. This is a direction of breeding that I had not considered until this year that should be further explored.
• Shagbark dominant hickory trees do not appear to respond with production to soil applications of soluble fertilizer for at least two year.
• Kernels can change their flavor from fruity black walnut flavor to rich shagbark flavor to mildly astringent bland flavor across years.
• It is most important to evaluate nut characteristics on high yield years as that is when the vast majority of the crop is produced.
• 2025 was a year of poor tasting shagbark nuts that my elders have not observed happening so ubiquitously across the region over the past decade. Flavors at badgersett were on the order of minor rancidity added to the typical flavors of each tree. This was observed in MN, IA, and WI by me and two other hickory collecting experts. It was also a very low production year in 2025.
• Extremely late leaf out in spring appears to be caused in shagbark by photosynthate depletion due to overbearing the year prior given the trees context
• It is very helpful to knock nuts with a "Mr. Long Arm" painting stick to ensure that you are getting nuts from the specific tree. I also often use a collapsable ladder to get the the first branch, climb the tree, and hand harvest sample nuts. Sometimes, samples must be collect via climbing with ropes using arborist gear (a starter kit can be purchased for 700$ or cheaper if you know a person with a used harness). I have a document on my websiste dispersionfarms.com under "Information" if you want to get started. Call for more info. Only evaluate samples you are sure are from the particular tree and if you are harvesting from the ground, know that the sample will likely be much more weevil infested that a sample collected from the tree because rodents have already picked through it.
• If the shuck can be easily separated by hand from the nut without juices staining the nut or your hand, the nut is ripe. Bad nuts will often stick to the husk.
• Catkins appear to be set the year prior in buds if there is abundant photosynthates in the stem. That said, I have observed that many pollen fertile trees will not grow out or abort some or all of these catkins on some years due to lack of photosynthates or water. These catkins are tucked under the budscales and yellow as they abort and fall off. They can abort when very small or even medium sized. Pollen sterility abortion appears to happen later in catkin development nearer the time of pollen shed while the catkins are green still.
• Low pollen shed does not appear to be a major cause for synchronization of masting with shagbark dominant hickories.

Variety Evaluation Selects:

• 'Snack Shack' - This is the heaviest bearing tree at badgersett in ‘24 and has the record for the heaviest yields with good yield consistency at Badgersett. Mid season ripening and indeterminate. Typical to slightly thinner husk thickness. Excellent cracking. 80% halves when cracked side to side, cracking comparable to Weschcke. Excellent sweet shagbark flavor. Milks well. <10% undeveloped kernels on overbearing, branch breaking year, <5% weeviled. This is the one tree that I love, understand well, and know is pollen fertile. 2.1g@42% in 2024. 2.3g@43% in 2022. Hard off in 2023 and 2025. Old records say that this tree was heavy annual bearing under consistent nitrogen applications but the tree appears biennial the past four years which may be caused by moderate drought at badgersett the past handful of years. Orients well but certainly not optimally in my automated cracker due to its dorsal ridge and relatively short length to width ratio. This tree produced 25 gallons of nuts in 2024 year with limbs spreading 24ft in diameter. Records indicate that yields on 40x40 with the same tree size would produce about 700lbs of kernel to the acre annualized competing with average South Eastern pecan yields in the US. One of the darkest tan/brown shells of any of the hickories at badgersett suggesting pecan or yellowbud genetics though genetic testing does not suggest such with current low resolution testing.
• 'BS Precocious' - A historic annual bearer that has been biennial under my observation. The first hickory to bear at Badgersett in the early 2000s. Heavy bearing with yield similar to 'Snack Shack' at 25 gallons of harvest in an on year. Mild shag flavor. Late and indeterminant. Okay cracking 2.0g with 37% kernel but well worthy for milking. Typical shag husk thickness. Pollen fertile.
• 'BS Front' - A historic annual bearer that has been biennial under my observation. Heavy bearing with yield similar to 'Snack Shack' at 25 gallons of harvest in an on year. Mild shag flavor. Late and indeterminant. Okay cracking 2.4g with 39% kernel but well worthy for milking. Typical shag husk thickness. Pollen fertile.
• 'Swaim' - Biennial bearing in my observation. Bore a great crop in an off year and has shown capacity to bear more regularly than others. Appears more annual bearing than weschcke. Thin husk. Indeterminant. Good shag flavor. 2.1g at 48% kernel typical with great cracking to halves. We suited for hickory automated cracked due to rectangular boxy shape. Pollen fertile.
• 'Butter Berry' - A pressable mild shag flavored hybrid. Good bearing biennial during my observation but annual in historic data. Very late in shagbark season verging on bitternut season. Thin husks so it doesn’t flaunt yield or weigh branches heavily. Dehiscent, indeterminate. Somewhat weevil susceptible. A historic record observed at badgersett since bearing. Consistent kernel percentage and size above 2.4g@50%. Poor cracking. Mild shagbark flavor. 2.5g@50% in ‘24. 2.5g@53% in ‘23. 2.4g@51% in 22’. Pollen sterile.
• 'Shiver' - Thinnest shell for shagbark that I have ever evaluated. 3.4g at 53% kernel in 2024. 3.5g at 57% kernel in 2022. Excellent bearing in 22 with low bearing in 2023, okay bearing 2024 and 2025. Mild shagbark flavor. Weevil magnet. Not well suited to automated cracking orientation. Best over-cracked head to heel with great cracking and fast finger extraction. 70% easy extraction. 90% finger extraction. 80% halves, 20% quarters when over cracked h-h. Not vetted well enough yet for production or weevil resistance under excellent management. Very low fertility in soil prior to spring ‘24. Mid season ripening. Very late receptivity. Pollen sterile. Typical shagbark hull thickness.
• 'Gateway' -  Good yield in ‘24 which was a low year at the Weschcke farm; off in 2023 and 2025. Bore in consecutive on years in 2021 and 2022 showing potential for annual bearing. Good shagbark flavor with good crackout. 2.7g@48% kernel. No disease concerns; very healthy. Clear Weschcke seedling. Pollen sterile. Thick hulls. There are no weevils present at this site so this tree deserves further study in a weeviled context.
• 'Weschcke' - Pollen sterile. 47% kernel, 1.8-2.3g kernel, larger under fertility. Annual heavy bearing, excellent shag flavor, very clean kernel. 90% easy extraction, 70% halves. Marginally pressable; recommended to reduce shell content after precrack by picking out or sifting. Crack lightly side to side. Proven by half a century and currently the best multi-purpose proven tree. This tree appears to be a great candidate for automated cracking. There are no weevils present at this site so this tree deserves further study in a weeviled context.
• 'Cheeks' - The earliest hickory in 2024 at Badgersett. Highly weevil resistant; I found 4 weevils in ¾ gallon of nuts in 2024 and as well as the year prior. Very well suited to shake harvesting; after the first 3 nuts had hit the ground naturally on 9/14 in MN, I hand shook the tree and about 80% dropped with about 50% free of husk after impact with the ground; determinant. Good yield in ‘24 which was a low year and moderate yield in ‘23 which was an off year. Good shagbark flavor with okay crackout. 2.5g@47% kernel in ‘24 and 2.4g@50% in ‘23. Both ‘23 and ‘24 were atypical years for kernel percentage. This tree needs more observation for nut consistency. Likely settles at 2.5g@48% kernel making this a candidate for oil pressing and milking. No disease concerns; very healthy. Clear Weschcke seedling. Pollen sterile. Thick hulls. Highly prone to delayed graft failure on pecan compared; this may have been a fluke of 2025 but this was a noteworthy observation.
• 'Fourth Finger' - Named after the fourth catkin in the typical three catkin cluster that it bears. 2.2g at 42% kernel. The most annual bearing, weevil resistant, valuable nut in Badgersett's low fertility "back hill" context. This tree is exclusively useful for milking but is noteworthy enough in its production that it is worth propagation.
• 'JJ' - More annual bearing than most other trees Badgersett's low fertility "back hill" context but very weevil succeptible. 3.2g at 48% kernel. Excellent kernel flavor but poor cracking good for milking and oil pressing. Typical husk thickness. Spreading tree form similar to bitternut hickory. 
• 'Bench Press' - Pollen sterile. 45-50% kernel, 4.0-5.0g kernel, heavy bearing but orchard bearing habits not yet known. Inconsistent flavor ranging from mild hickory to black walnut flavor. Quite entangled in face of shell but not stuck in corners. 50% easy extraction. 80% finger extraction. 30% halves, 60% quarters, 10% pieces, 20% stuck. Crack head to heel. 5 leaf, low shag bark with wide plates, large shag bud, somewhat spreading form, somewhat fractally twig pattern. 45 deg crotch angle with branches that flatten or arc downward. No leaf holding. Sapscucker, twig gall, and canker resistant. High leaf gall susceptibility. Early to mid receptivity. Grafts very well with vigorous growth the year of grafting both on epicotyl grafts and traditional grafts.
• 'Henke' -  Hican. Excellent production biennially. Mid to late in shagbark season. Good pecan flavor. 2.2g@45% kernel. Good pecan flavor. Great crack. 80% halves with side-side cracking or rolling crack like crowding plate pecan cracker. Candidate for automated cracking with normal pecan cracker. Great and reliable fill.
• 'Vernon (Hican)' - Not expected to perform in WI but worth noting because it is the best tree I have evaluated. 4.5g@52% kernel. Excellent production. Excellent cracking. Great pecan flavor with shag hints. 80% halves with side-side cracking or rolling crack like crowding plate pecan cracker. Candidate for automated cracking with normal pecan cracker. Head-tail crack works quite well too. Late. I would not plant farther North than Indianapolis. Pressable for oil in shell. Great and reliable fill.
• 'Country Club (Hican)' - Not expected to perform in WI but worth noting because it is one of the best trees I have evaluated. 3.6g@46% kernel. Excellent production, excellent cracking. Side-side crack or rolling crack as with a crowding plate pecan cracker. Candidate for automated cracking with normal small scale pecan crackers. 80% halves with easy extraction like a good pecan. Shag aroma, rich pecan flavor, Late. I would not plant farther North than Indianapolis. Great and reliable fill.