The pecan is a large tree native to river valleys in the central and southern United States and parts of Mexico. Its long, thin-shelled nuts develop inside a husk that splits into four sections when ripe.
Appearance
Appearance
A mature tree can reach about 70–100 ft (21–30 m) in favorable sites.
Leaves
Each leaf is made of many narrow, toothed leaflets.
Flowers
Long, dangling male flower clusters and short female flower clusters grow separately on the same tree.
Flowering time
In Illinois, flowers appear in April and May as the leaves expand.
Fruit
The green outer husk dries and opens into four parts in fall, revealing an oblong nut.
A ripe pecan has a long nut inside an outer husk that splits along seams. Black walnut fruits are round, and their thick green husk does not open along those seams.
Why they get mixed up · Both are large walnut-family trees with leaves made up of many leaflets and edible nuts.
Water hickory has a smaller, often flattened nut and often grows on wet sites. Pecan has a longer, oval nut and is most common on better-drained river soils.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
River bottoms
Moist woods
Orchards
Range
Native populations grow from Illinois and Iowa south through the Mississippi valley to Texas and into Mexico. The tree is also widely planted beyond that range.
Preferred conditions
Wild trees favor deep, moist, well-drained river soils. Cultivated trees need room to grow into large shade trees.
Flowering
Flowers Apr–May
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Flowers
Flowers Apr–May
Life cycle
Reproduction
Wind carries pollen between flowers; compatible cultivars can improve fruit set.
Growing it
Care
Named varieties differ in nut size and the timing of pollen release. Growers often pair varieties with compatible flowering times.