Pecan trees are nut trees native to the United States. Known for their large stature and tasty fruit, they are a great addition to your land. So if you wonder if a pecan tree can survive in your own backyard, the odds are pretty great!
Pecan trees grow best in the North, Southwest, Midwest, and Southeastern part of the United States. They grow best here because the hardiness zones are between 5-9, which is ideal for pecan tree growth.
Whether you live in the sunshine-filled humid state of Florida, the dry desert of Arizona, or the spacious land of Nebraska, we’ve got the information you need to step forth on your pecan-growing adventure. Read on to learn more about growing pecan trees in your region!
If you are ever unsure about planting a pecan tree, we recommend contacting your local arborist to assist!
The Best And Worst Places To Plant Pecan Trees
Pecan trees can survive- and thrive – almost anywhere. However, there are a few exceptions. A quick tip – pecan trees do very well in regions where the winters are short, and the summers are hot.
Pecan trees don’t do well in regions with hardiness zones of 4 and below, including the northernmost, coldest areas in the United States and Alaska, or in zones above 9, which would include areas in the southernmost tip of Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
Along with the places to grow pecan trees, it’s also good to know the best time to plant pecan trees! Head on over to our article to learn about the best time to plant pecan trees, to grow a perfect, healthy, and thriving tree!
Growing Pecan Trees In Northern State
Despite Georgia, New Mexico, and Texas being the leading pecan-producing states, there are many other places to grow pecan trees. Let’s start in the north!
There are many benefits to growing pecan trees in these northern states. In fact, the natural range for the pecan tree extends just north of the Mason-Dixon line.
The Mason-Dixon line runs among the borders of Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania separating the northern states from the southern states.
Due to the availability of many native pecan trees in this region, growers have been able to select, evaluate and propagate the most productive trees.
The Pawnee and Kanza are two awesome variations released by the USDA pecan breeding program.
What To Expect When Raising Your Northern Pecan Tree
Pecan trees found in northern states experience cold winters and hot summers. Being able to withstand temperatures that drop to -22 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and rise well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, these pecan trees are resilient!
These climate conditions will impact the way you raise your pecan trees. Pecan trees in the north produce smaller, light-colored kernels with a high shelling percentage, and this is due to the fact that they ripen under cool temperatures.
Another excellent benefit to growing your pecan trees in the northern states is that much of the soil here already contains one of the pecan tree’s favorite types of nutrients, zinc!
That means your primary focus can be on providing adequate amounts of nitrogen, which you can do by adding a pecan tree fertilizer such as Fertilome Fruit, Citrus, and Pecan Tree Food.
Growing Pecan Trees In The Southwestern States
Pecan production in the southwestern United States has become wildly popular. From Texas, working our way west to California, it’s common to see acres and acres of pecan trees. Although there aren’t native pecan trees in this region, growers have been able to transplant, evaluate and propagate the best variations for this region.
If you live in Arizona, New Mexico, southern and central California, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
The Western Schley and the Wichita trees are quite popular variations to plant in these areas.
The Western Schley produces a kernel that is just slightly smaller than the Wichita. However, it creates more nuts per pound. Both trees can withstand higher desert heat and are drought-resistant.
What To Expect When Raising Your Southwestern Pecan Tree
High temperatures in this climate darken the kernel and speed up the option for them to become rancid, so it’s essential to harvest quickly! The soil and temperatures in this region are well-loved by the pecan trees.
When fertilizing, the goal is to provide adequate amounts of zinc and nitrogen for your pecan tree. Zinc fertilizers like this Carl Pool Pecan Special Fertilizer applied early in the season are excellent practice, while nitrogen is applied directly to the soil as often as needed depending on the nutrient levels of your soil.
The most common pests to protect your pecan trees from in the western region are aphids and true bugs. Aphids will destroy your leaves, while true bugs will ruin the nut. To learn more about this, head on over to our sister site PestPointers to learn why aphids keep coming back and how to stop them!
Growing Pecan Trees In The Midwestern States
If you live in the midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, then you can find a lot of luck in planting and growing pecan trees in your region!
Of all the midwest states, Missouri is one of the most popular for pecan growing. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, 80 percent of Missouri’s pecans come from native pecan trees! This could be because it’s located right on the border of native pecan country.
If you live in the midwestern region, the best variations to plant would be the Kanza (suited for colder climates), Hark, or Shephard pecan trees.
What To Expect When Raising Your Midwestern Pecan Tree
Midwestern pecan trees can handle lower temperatures. This is especially great for the midwesterners who live further north.
According to the University of Nebraska Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension, trees in this region aren’t too picky about their soil pH like we commonly see in the other areas. Though less fussy with soil pH, they do require well-draining soil.
The main goal in this region is to keep your tap root happy! Well-drained soil means happy roots. Which also means healthy, fast-growing trees. In fact, the pecan trees in this region can grow incredibly fast. You might want to start collecting all those pecan recipes!
Growing Pecan Trees In The Southeastern States
The warm and humid states of the southeast, specifically Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, are definitely pecan friendly! In fact, the southeast is one of the largest pecan-producing regions in the United States.
The hardiness zones in this region range from seven to ten. Therefore pecan trees that can stand those higher and humid temperatures are a must.
The most popular variation for the southeastern region is the Desirable, Curtis, and Elliot pecan trees. These trees do really well in the humid climate typical in the southeast, and they are considered relatively low maintenance and are scab and disease-resistant.
What To Expect When Raising Your Pecan Tree In The Southeast
In the lower elevations regions like Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina, it’s common to see your pecan trees suffer from pre-germination.
According to The University of Arizona College of Agriculture, pre-germination is when the kernel embryo forms and the nut germinates, all while still on the tree. Your pecans become bitter when this happens. Be sure to pick a pecan-tree best suited for this region to avoid this.
Though this environment is incredibly loved by pecan trees, it is also very loved by disease and pests. Due to the rain and humidity, Pecan scab, and an abundance of aphids is a primary concerns in this region.
Where To Plant Your Pecan Tree
No matter which region you live in, there are a few standard rules regarding where exactly you plant your tree. It’s important to know that pecan trees can live anywhere between eighty to one hundred years! So picking a good location is so important.
Some tips on picking a location!
- Picking a location with deep and nutritious soil for your tree is essential because it will be drinking up its nourishment from the same spot for a long time. Good soil will also hold nutrients after fertilization.
- Always plant your pecan trees with at least a 30 x 30 foot spacing from other trees and objects. As previously mentioned, pecan trees can grow big – hey, more pecans for those delicious pecan pies!
- Pecan trees are sun-loving. When planting, be sure to pick an area where they can soak up as much sun as possible to keep them happy.
What Comes Next?
As you can see, there are more locations in the United States where pecans can thrive than places where they can’t. The first step to pecan-growing success is making sure to familiarize yourself with the hardiness zone of your location so that you can pick the right tree.
Additionally, if you’re ever in doubt about whether the variety of pecan trees you’ve chosen will thrive in your state, check out USDA’s Pecan Cultivar List to learn more.
Now that you’ve learned the best places to plant your pecan tree, you’ll want to read up on the best time and how to plant your tree! Believe it or not – it’s in the winter!
And there you have it! We hope our pecan growing tips will help keep you from going “nuts” and we can’t wait to watch you thrive!
References
Reid, W., & Hunt, K. L. (2000). Pecan production in the northern United States. HortTechnology, 10(2), 298-301.
Herrera, E. A. (1995). Pecan growing in the western United States. HortTechnology, 5(3), 200-201.
Stuckey, H. P., & Kyle, E. J. (1925). Pecan-growing. Macmillan.
