Pecan
Carya illinoinensis
Go Back to Field GuidePecan Photo Gallery
Basic Information
Order
Fagales
Family
Juglandaceae
Size
60 - 140 ft
Leaf Color
Green, Yellow Fall Foliage
Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Leaf Complexity
Pinnate
Leaf Shape
Lanceolate
Blooming Season
Spring
Bloom Color
Yellow
Attracts
Wildlife, Butterflies
Can I eat Pecan?
Pecans are delicious and nutritious!
Pecan Habitat
Pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) are common in the southeast along streams or in moist forests. It does best in wet, well draining soils.
Pecan Facts
Pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) are the largest of the hickory species. They have slate gray smooth bark, massive trunks, sweet edible nuts and often soar more than 150 feet. Pecan is a Native American word meaning “nut requiring stone to crack.” Pecan trees are grown as a crop today, but wild pecans are still common within its native range. Thomas Jefferson planted pecans at his home in Monticello, and gave some seeds to George Washington. Those trees are now the oldest trees standing at Washington’s home Mount Vernon. In the wild pecans are an important source of food for birds and other mammals. Its massive branches also provide habitat for songbirds.