Black hickory is a small to medium tree with short, crooked branches and a narrow crown. The leaves, with 5-7 leaflets, are not particularly distinctive, but the tree is easy to recognize when mature by the combination of thin, blackish twigs, small buds, and shaggy bark. It can grow to a height of about 80 feet. It is the largest known tree of its species in the country as reported to American Forests. The wood is extremely hard and excellent for making furniture. References. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Identify-Hickory-Trees-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-Hickory-Trees-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Identify-Hickory-Trees-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1606809-v4-728px-Identify-Hickory-Trees-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"