Pecan

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Carya illinoinensis

FAMILY: Juglandaceae

Hardiness: Zones 5 to 7

Growth habit: Tree has an irregular rounded crown as a mature tree. Native to the eastern and southern states it is found growing as a native tree in Eastern Kansas and throughout central Texas. There are no native pecan stands in Colorado.

Foliage: Bright green pinnately compound leaf is 12 to 18 inches long. The narrow lance-shaped leaflets are 3 to 6 inches long on a pale green petiole.

Flowers: Male and female flowers are borne on the same tree in catkins. Flowers are not showy in appearance.

Fruit: A nut contained in a four-winged husk. As fruit matures the husk turns dark brown in color. The nut has a dark brown thin shell and can have a sweet seed inside. Seed production begins once the tree is 20 years old.

Bark: The bark is brownish gray and slightly furrowed on mature trees.

Twigs: On young branches light gray to brown in color eventually turning gray with maturity.

Insects and diseases: Have not observed significant pests other than aphids on Colorado specimens.

Landscape value: The current state champion is located north of Delta about a block east of the Ute Council Cottonwood. There are numerous specimens located in Delta and Grand Junction. The literature states that the tree needs well-drained loamy soils but the soil where the Colorado specimens are growing is clay-like and alkaline. This tree species has a substantial taproot, which make transplanting a difficult proposition. Any attempts to establish this tree should be done when the trees are seedlings. Preferably less than two years old.

Information sources: Michael Kuhns, Trees of Utah and the Intermountain West (Utah State University Press, 1998) Fire Effects Information System, USDA Forest Service.

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