Pecan Trees

A pecan nut consists of an edible kernel enclosed in a hard woody shell. The nut (kernel + shell) is itself enclosed in a leathery husk about 2 inches in diameter. When pecans mature, generally from September through November, the husks turn from green to brown and split open, releasing the nuts which then drop […]

Pecan trees get very large – more than 80 feet tall, with a spread of 50 feet wide or more. They are not suitable for the small backyard. But, if you have the room, a pecan tree is well worth having, and a welcome legacy for those who come behind you. Find out how many […]

The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is a large hardwood tree native to the mixed forests and bottomland hardwood swamps along large rivers from the Mississippi westward into East Texas and Mexico. They can get 70-100 feet tall and spread as much as 70 feet wide across. Pecans are widely grown commercially and in the home […]

So, your pecan trees are coming along nicely, but now you notice these little blister-like bumps on many of the leaves. What’s up with that? The bumps on pecan tree leaves are actually galls caused by the leaf’s response to small insects called pecan phylloxeras (Fill-OX-er-ahs). These are true bugs (order Hemiptera), an aphid like […]

Why is pollination important? Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower (the stamen) to the female part of a flower (the pistil). Fertilization then occurs in the ovary when a sperm cell from a pollen grain unites with an egg to produce an embryo. This then develops into a […]

A viable pecan seed (the nut) is the product of cross pollination (sexual reproduction) between two pecan trees. It has a genetic makeup that is different from either parent, and the potential to grow into a pecan tree that differs in unpredictable ways from either parent. If you want to grow a pecan tree with […]

Nut bearing trees are often overlooked by the backyard orchardist. They shouldn’t be. Of course nut trees take longer to reach maturity than most fruit trees, but once they start producing, nut trees will continue to reward for decades, even centuries. Most make handsome shade trees in addition to providing delicious and healthful nuts. The […]

When you plant trees, you’re not just beautifying your landscape — you’re also investing in your property value anywhere from 7-19% (source);  a study from the University of Michigan states that for every $1 you invest in landscaping your yard, you’ll see a 109% return in home value!   Homes with well-landscaped yards and beautifully-grown […]

There are more than 500 named pecan varieties, but just a handful are widely planted in the United States. For the homeowner or small scale commercial orchardist, the important differences between types of pecan trees include: pollination type; timing of flowering; size of the nut; shell thickness; tendency to bear in alternate years; age at […]

Pecans play a huge role in fall and winter holiday traditions and cuisine, especially in the South. Whether it’s a classic pecan pie (or even pecan pie truffles), pralines, banana bread or other savory dishes, pecans can have their place at every meal, and make a great snack in between. While some in-store pecans are nice to […]