Pecan, Carya illinoensis

Comments: Where good soils exist, pecans can make desirable shade trees and producers of edible nuts. Leaves, buds, husks of nuts and perhaps the wood, release a material during rain or when damaged that can stain patio furniture, car tops and sidewalks. This may be an undesirable feature depending on location of the tree. Use in areas with good growing conditions where pests will be controlled.

Culture: Not well adapted to upland or urban sites with no topsoil. Difficult to transplant and slow to regenerate feeder roots. Plant only where pest control is assured or it will be disappointing to the landscape.

Size: To 100 ft. tall, 60-80 ft. wide

Growth Rate: Slow to moderate

Bark: Bark is thick, light to dark reddish brown, relatively smooth or deeply furrowed and scaly

Leaves: Alternate, compound, 12-20 inches long, with 9-15 leaflets; terminal leaflet is always present. Individual leaflets are 4-6 inches wide, generally of uniform size with slight reduction of those near the base of the compound leaf. Margin is double-toothed.

Fall Color: Dull yellow.

Flower: Not showy

Fruit: The common pecan, generally in clusters of 3-8 or more, oblong or football shaped, thin husks and size of kernel depending on cultivars and within seedlings.

Pests: Tent caterpillars are the main pest of the foliage. Fruit pests such as weevils, pecan scab and shuck worms, cause considerable loss of the fruit if they are not controlled.

Cultivars: Many selections available.