The pecan tree ( genus Carya illinoinensis ) is a large , long - lived deciduous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the Juglandaceae family . It is native to North America , occur of course in the central region of the United States and south into Texas and Mexico . It grows principally in the Mississippi River vale .
Under the right care and conditions , they can live for several hundred years , though most tree have shorter living . The pecan tree is stalwart in USDA works hardiness zones 5 to 9 .
Pecan Tree Facts
Pecan trees are turgid trees , with mature trees able of reach heights of up to 100 ft . They turn about 13 to 24 column inch a year . In gain to their nuts , pecan trees are also valued for their timberland , which is used for making furniture and other commercial wood products .
Pecan trees are monoecious , which think that separate male flower , known as catkins , and female flowers are find oneself on the same tree .
However , pollen discharge does not coincide with the windowpane when female flowers are receptive . Some pecan variety are protandrous , meaning the pollen is expel before the distaff flower are quick . Others are protogynous , meaning the pollen is turn after the female flower are centripetal .
Pecan trees therefore ask cross - pollenation . That mean that pollenation with pollen from a different pecan cultivar must occur in order for the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to bring on orchis . That means that multiple tree diagram within 200 feet of each other are required for pecan production .
Pecan Tree Life Span
Pecan trees are capable of endure for 300 to 400 years . However , the sprightliness brace of a pecan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is usually around 117 years .
When plant a pecan tree , it is important to remark that it can take a tenacious metre for a pecan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to make fruit — as long as 6 to 10 years . The specific age when a pecan tree begin to bring forth nuts count on the cultivar .
Growing Pecan Trees
Pecan tree are difficult to transpose because of their root arrangement ; they develop a long taproot . Therefore , choosing the right location for these trees from the get - go is essential . Pecan Tree should be implant in full sun to produce a honorable crop . A grunge pH somewhere between 6.0 and 6.5 is idealistic .
A pecan tree ’s water needs vary throughout its life sentence cycle . Young trees demand 10 to 15 gallons of water supply a week for right Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree emergence . It is also important to have the soil test to watch a tree’sfertilizer needs .
Tip
right watering and fertilization are key to pecan tree diagram ontogenesis and can extenuate the outcome of diseases .
Pecan Tree Diseases
While pecan trees are capable of hold out for centuries , nut production andnut qualitycan be sham by fungal diseases , such as pecan blackleg , leafage spots and stubble dieback .
Due to the size of it of these trees , however , spraying a pecan tree with fungicides is not practical in the home garden . Pecan tree diagram are also vulnerable to bacterial disease , such as pate bile .
Trees that are stressed tend to be more vulnerable to diseases . Therefore , decently watering and fertilizing the tree diagram can serve forbid disease from pretend pecan nut production . It is also important to clean up around the trees to remove leafage bedding and other plant materials that can harbour pathogens .
