# Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

> The Texas state tree: a huge, long-lived shade and nut tree that can pass 100 feet on good river-bottom soil. It casts dense shade and gives free nuts in fall, but it needs deep soil and plenty of water, drops nuts, husks and leaves for months, and sheds limbs in storms. Best suited to large lots on the deep soils east of I-35 in Austin.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/carya-illinoinensis · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Family: Juglandaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, loses its leaves in winter
- Mature height: 27 m; spread 18 m
- Growth: Medium growth
- USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Needs steady water
- Soil: Deep, rich, moist, well-drained bottomland soil; on alkaline soils it often needs zinc
- Native range: Mississippi River valley from Iowa and Illinois south to Texas, Louisiana and northeastern Mexico

**Benefits:** Shade, Edible, Wildlife, Birds, Long lived, Stores carbon well

**Good for:** Yard shade, Food, parks, Agroforestry

**Watch out for:** Heavy litter, Weak wood, Pest prone, Large roots

## Care

Plant bare-root or container trees in winter and water deeply and regularly for at least the first two years; mature trees still want a deep soaking every few weeks in dry summers to set nuts. Prune in winter for strong branch angles. Expect webworms, aphids (and sticky honeydew), pecan scab and twig girdlers; choose scab-resistant cultivars. Keep it away from roofs and driveways because of litter and limb drop.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** United States (Also native in: IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, OH, VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)); AL, United States; AR, United States; FL, United States; GA, United States; LA, United States; MS, United States; NC, United States; OK, United States; SC, United States; TN, United States; TX, United States
- **Recommended:** Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Austin, TX, United States (On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). Listed as 'Pecan' for riparian or moist, deep-soil sites only; high water needs.); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List)

## Sources

- https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CAIL2
- https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAIL2
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/carya-illinoinensis/
- https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/pecan
- https://www.treefolks.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NeighborWoodsTreeMenu-2026.pdf