Carya illinoinensisIndiana Native
Pecan

Carya illinoinensis - Tree Habit
 Family:
 Genus:
 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Green (Green-yellow monoecious flowers; not ornamentally important)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Medium green to yellow-green summer foliage); Brown (Poor yellow-brown fall color)
 Stem Notes:
stout, olive-brown, pubescent
 Fruit Notes:
Brown (Nuts encased in a green husk that matures to brown and splits open when ripe)
 Ultimate Height:
70-100 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
40-75 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Prefers deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils
 Range:
Eastern United States and into Mexico
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves (12-20" long) are alternate, oddly pinnately compound, with 9-17 serrated and pointed leaflets, each 4-7" long by 1-3" wide. Buds are ovoid, dark brown, and pubescent.
 Ecological Functions:
  Special Characteristics:
  • Food/Edible 80
  • Indiana Native 152
  • Naturalizing 101
  • Shade Tree 170

    • Additional Information

    The Pecan is a tall, straight-trunked tree and is the largest of the hickories. It is well-known for its sweet, edible nuts and because of this, it is an important horticultural crop in the south, where it produces fruit most abundantly. However, it is not generally recommended for use in the landscape, due to its pest susceptibility and litter problem. With its large taproot, it can also be quite difficult to transplant.

    37 Carya illinoinensis found

    Building Map...

    = Heritage plant = Memorial plant
    Number Accession ID Location
    1ORIG_4476*AMCUT
    22018_00744*APFEN
    3ORIG_8484*ARHPH
    4ORIG_1822*ALAMB
    52023_00152*AHORTPARK
    62023_00192*FHORTPARK
    72023_00192*GHORTPARK
    82023_00192*HHORTPARK
    92023_00192*IHORTPARK
    102023_00222*BHORTPARK
    112023_00222*CHORTPARK
    122023_00222*DHORTPARK
    132023_00222*EHORTPARK
    142023_00222*FHORTPARK
    152023_00222*GHORTPARK
    162023_00222*HHORTPARK
    172023_00222*IHORTPARK
    182023_00255*AHORTPARK
    192023_00255*BHORTPARK
    202023_00292*AHORTPARK
    212023_00337*APICK
    222023_00337*BPICK
    232023_00337*CPICK
    242023_00337*DPICK
    252023_00337*EPICK
    262023_00337*FPICK
    272022_15762*AHORTPARK
    282023_00579*ACQNE
    292023_00636*ACREC
    302023_00764*APSF
    312023_00764*BPSF
    322023_00764*CPSF
    332023_00764*DPSF
    342023_00764*EPSF
    352023_00764*FPSF
    362023_00764*GPSF
    372023_00764*HPSF

    Other plants like this Carya illinoinensis (Pecan)

    Communication

    University Resources

    Sustainability Resources

    Arboretum Resources

    Purdue University Logo Purdue University Logo

    The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

    Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
    © 2025 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
    Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us