pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

First place champion pecan in Delta.

Species info:

Leaves: Pinnately compound, bright green, 12–18 inches long with 9–17 narrow, lance-shaped leaflets. Leaflets are 3–6 inches long with serrated margins on a pale green petiole.

Leaflets: 9–17 per leaf, slender and pointed.

Leaf Surface: Smooth and bright green above, lighter beneath.

Bark: Brownish-gray, becoming slightly furrowed with age.

Twigs: Light gray to brown on young growth, turning gray as they mature.

Flowers: Male and female flowers borne separately on the same tree (monoecious), appearing in spring as catkins; not showy.

Fruit: Edible nut enclosed in a four-winged husk that turns dark brown when mature. The nut has a thin, brown shell and sweet kernel; seed production typically begins after 20 years.

Botanical: Carya illinoinensis

Family: Juglandaceae

Mature Height: 70–100 feet in native range; smaller (often under 60 feet) in Colorado

Canopy Spread: 30 to 40 feet

Foliage Type: Deciduous

Tree Shape: Rounded with upright branching habit.

Growth Rate: Medium

Fruit: Edible, but fruit set is unreliable in Colorado

Flower: Inconspicuous

Fall Color: Yellow

Water Use: Moderate; tolerates drought once established but prefers deep, moist soils.

Hardiness: Zones 5–7

Soil Preference: Prefers well-drained loams; tolerates alkaline, clay soils as seen in Colorado specimens.

Wildlife Value: Nuts provide valuable food source for squirrels, birds, and other wildlife.

Pests/Pathogens: Few problems in Colorado; occasional aphids.

Planting Recommendations: Considered a tree with potential; does not transplant well; vulnerable in exposed sites

Information Sources:

• Michael A. Dirr. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press. 2011