Pecan Carya illinoinensis
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Juglandaceae family, native to South-central United States and northern Mexico. It grows 12–20 m (39–66 ft) tall and 10–16 m (33–52 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -23 °C (-9 °F). Space plants about 12 m (39 ft) apart.
Plan Pecan in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Pecan at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Juglandaceae |
| Mature height | 12–20 m (39–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 10–16 m (33–52 ft) |
| Spacing | 12 m (39 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 8 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -23 °C (-9 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 2–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: nuts |
| Native to | South-central United States and northern Mexico |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Is Pecan toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: moldy nuts, husks
Mouldy nuts can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause tremors and seizures in dogs.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Pecan
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Pecan
- How far apart should I plant Pecan?
- About 12 m (39 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 10–16 m (33–52 ft).
- Does Pecan need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Pecan need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Pecan?
- It tolerates about -23 °C (-9 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- When does Pecan flower?
- From about May for 2–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Pecan poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs mildly toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Mouldy nuts can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause tremors and seizures in dogs.
- What grows well with Pecan?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Pecan. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
- EcoCrop crop environmental requirements, FAO
- Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center: chilling requirements by species and cultivar, University of California, Davis
Notes and assumptions
- Needs a long, hot growing season (about 180-200 frost-free days) to fill nuts; wind-pollinated and cultivars are type I or II, so plant both types; chill about 300-1000 hours by cultivar.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Black walnut Juglans nigra
- English walnut Juglans regia
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- English yew Taxus baccata
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata
- Saucer magnolia Magnolia x soulangeana