Pecan

Carya illinoinensis

Native to:: Mexico, United States

iNaturalist: © jaykeller (iNaturalist #1950950)

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Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Juglandaceae
Genus:: Carya
Species:: Carya illinoinensis
USDA Symbol:: CAIL2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Tree
Height:: 4000 cm
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: Medium
Bloom Months:: apr,may
Food Forest:: Contains edible parts

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:: ★★★★★ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acrobasis caryivorella, Acrobasis caulivorella, Acrobasis cunulae, Acrobasis evanescentella, Acrobasis grossbecki, Acrobasis hebescella, Acrobasis latifasciella, Acrobasis palliolella, Acrobasis peplifera, Agrippina Underwing (Catocala agrippina), American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Angulose Prominent (Peridea angulosa), Angus' Underwing (Catocala angusi), Archips infumatana, Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), black-dotted leaftier moth (Psilocorsis cryptolechiella), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), common gray (Anavitrinella pampinaria), Coptodisca lucifluella, cordovan pyralid moth (Acrobasis exsulella), Cossula magnifica, Dichomeris ventrella (Dichomeris ventrella), Dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula), Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americana), Epione underwing (Catocala epione), Eulogia ochrifrontella, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), false prominent (Schizura leptinoides), hickory shoot borer (Acrobasis caryae), Hickory shuckworm (Cydia caryana), Judith's Underwing (Catocala judith), Larisa subsolana, leaf crumpler moth (Acrobasis indigenella), leafroller (Gretchena deludana), Luna moth (Actias luna), Monoleuca semifascia, Obscure Underwing (Catocala obscura), Old Wife Underwing (Catocala palaeogama), Omnivorous Leafroller (Platynota rostrana), pecan bud moth (Gretchena bolliana), pecan cigar casebearer (Coleophora laticornella), pecan leaf casebearer (Acrobasis juglandis), pecan leafminer (Cameraria caryaefoliella), pecan nut casebearer (Acrobasis nuxvorella), Penitent Underwing (Catocala piatrix), Phyllonorycter caryaealbella, Phyllonorycter olivaeformis, Pococera subcanalis, Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Red-lined Panopoda (Panopoda rufimargo), reflexella leafroller moth (Psilocorsis reflexella), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), residual underwing (Catocala residua), Sabulodes caberata, Sad Underwing (Catocala maestosa), Sappho underwing (Catocala sappho), Similar Underwing (Catocala similis), Splendid Royal Moth (Citheronia splendens), Stigmella juglandifoliella, Synanthedon geliformis, Tearful Underwing (Catocala lacrymosa), Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis), Walnut Sphinx (Amorpha juglandis), Widow Underwing (Catocala vidua), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana integerrima), Edwards' hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:: squirrels, birds, deer, small mammals
Fall Color:: yellow, golden

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 6.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: good drainage required
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: prefers deep, fertile soils along riverbanks

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:: Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
Germination Time:: 14–60 days
Notes:: Seeds should be planted fresh in fall or cold-stratified if spring planting. Germination improved by maintaining consistent moisture.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 60 to 90 days and germinate under greenhouse temperatures. In another study, seeds germinate at 30 to 35 C.

Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Seeds are wild collected during late fall and early winter months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Pecan grows principally in the bottomlands of the Mississippi River valley and its range extends westward from southern Indiana through Illinois, southeastern Iowa, and eastern Kansas, south to central Texas, and eastward to western Mississippi and western Tennessee. Its best commercial development is on river-front lands of the Mississippi Delta and along major rivers west of the Delta to Texas. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.

Source: npn.rngr.net