Pecans are a popular nut, found in everything from pies to salads, as well as other desserts, and even in addition to many savory dishes. So, in eating pecans, did you ever wonder how they actually grow? Maybe you’ve seen them on a tree recently, and want to know where all pecans can grow.
Pecans start to grow on pecan trees that are between the ages of 4 and 12 years old. Pecan trees can grow across the world, from the United States to Argentina, South Africa to Mexico, and China to Peru.
Stick with me here to learn about all of the different regions of the world, and more specifically the United States, where pecan trees can grow. And before you know it, maybe you’ll be growing your own pecan tree!
Where Are Pecan Trees Originally From?
According to the University of Kentucky’s Center for Crop Diversification, the pecan tree itself is native to North America, including the United States and Mexico.
Pecan trees were harvested for food, and for centuries pecans were a part of the transatlantic trade routes.
Eventually, European explorers ventured over and began to harvest pecans for both food and pecan lumber, which furniture makers held in high regard. By the 20th century, the pecan industry was booming. Thus, the reason for the shift in pecan trees being traded and transported around the world.
Key Pecan Tree Characteristics
Pecan trees are a big deal throughout history, and today still a hot commodity! When thinking about pecan trees, there are a few main characteristics that make them so special – and things you may want to consider before planting!
- Pecan trees are large deciduous trees, meaning that they lose their leaves as they go into their dormant state during the colder months of the year. ,
- A pecan tree’s leaves alternate in pattern to create a unique look.
- They can mature to anywhere between 20-40 meters in height
- Pecans aren’t actually nuts – they’re drupes! Let’s talk about this for a second.
Pecans Aren’t Actually Nuts!
These trees are members of the hickory genus, which means that technically pecans are not a nut. Wait…what?
Pecans are technically classified as a drupe, in the same way, that peaches, coconuts, and dates are!
According to the National Phenology Network, a drupe is a one-seeded fruit that is either fleshy or pulpy. It is a ‘fruit’ that has developed from one flower having a single ovary, and the seed has a hard or stony endocarp (AKA: the pit.)
Now that you know a little background on pecan trees – let’s get into it – where do pecan trees commonly grow?
Pecan Tree Growing Zones
These trees grow in areas that are generally warmer, but pecan trees can also be cold-hardy. In the United States, you’ll find them located in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.
While pecan trees can be found in countries all around the world that have similar environments, we’ll use the USDA’s growing zone map to discuss hardiness zones and what those look like.
It is a very digestible way to understand how the cold hardiness of trees can relate to the different zones of the country. We’ll talk more about the importance of hardiness zones later!
Without further ado – let’s get to it! Here are the common places where pecan trees grow!
7 Common Places That Pecan Trees Grow
According to New Mexico State University’s Pecan Toolbox, major areas of production are spread across the United States, Mexico, and South Africa.
Pecan growth started naturally in regions that were more humid and subtropical. Now, many of the regions that we talk about below will fall into the category of humid (best for growth), semi-arid, or arid (worst for growth.)
We’ll dive into these areas below!
North America- Southeast United States
Pecans are a major product that comes out of the southeast region of the country, Georgia, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma are all major areas of pecan production within the states.
It should be noted that the southern parts of the state that are west of central Texas, such as New Mexico and Arizona, are entirely dependent on irrigation systems to ensure that pecans grow well. Trees are more susceptible to disease in these regions, as their growing conditions are not quite as ideal.
For this reason, the American south and southeast are the best areas to grow pecans thanks to their long, hot, and unquestionably humid summers.
Pecan pie, pecan cookies, and pecans in a salad (sweet and savory) are just a few examples of the regional dishes you’ll find that use pecans heavily here.
North America – Mexico
Let’s not forget that Mexico was another one of the earliest places where pecans were recorded growing. In fact, today, Mexico produces nearly half of all the world’s pecans!
The states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Sonora are where you will find the most pecans being produced.
Dishes like an Oaxacan bowl topped with pecans, pecan cookies, and even cream of pecan soup, are all typical dishes that can be found and enjoyed throughout these parts of Mexico.
Mexico produces 80,000 tons of pecans per year, which are sent around the world for people to buy and enjoy.
Africa – South Africa
Another country that is one of the main producers of pecans, South Africa, might be a bit more surprising.
This country is in a great spot in the world to have prime conditions for growing pecans. With a climate that borders subtropical and tropical, a sufficient amount of rainfall, and fertile, well-drained soil, pecan trees can thrive in South Africa.
According to the South African Government, the Vaalharts and lower Orange river regions of the Northern Cape province are now home to major production of pecan nuts. However, pecan trees can be found growing in all provinces of the country.
Here, you’ll see pecan pie, cape brandy tart with pecans, and other delicious dishes that feature pecans.
While South Africa is the biggest pecan producer on the continent, other countries like Zimbabwe also produce this drupe.
Asia – China
The continent of Asia also has a stake in the world of pecans, and China is the main producer in this part of the world.
Since about 2017, China has been amping up its pecan production, as the health benefits of this nut are becoming more apparent and increasing its value.
Chinese five-spice candied pecans have become popular, as have Chinese fried pecans. These pecans are also often seen as an addition to Chinese dishes like chicken, carrot salads, and more.
Australia
Does this one seem far out? After all, Australia is far from the Americas and Africa, and even China seems like a world away. Welcome to the globalized world, my friends. Australia is also a producer of pecans!
Common issues like scab disease, seen in the United States, do not impact Australian pecans, making their products even simpler.
The country ships many pecans during the off-season in the Americas, which sees pecans being shipped just in time for those popular winter holiday dishes like pecan pie and other pecan-flavored items.
Australians themselves enjoy a good pecan pie, their own variation on salads with pecans, and pecan-apple pull-apart.
South America – Peru
Since pecans originated in the North part of the Americas, it is no shock that this crop worked its way down to South America during colonization periods.
Peru is a producer of this drupe, as well, and represents the western part of the continent while many of its neighbors are not major players in pecan production.
Exports are gradually growing, as Peruvian pecans tend to be much larger in size than the native crops of North America.
Ají de gallina, a popular dish with peppers, chicken, and Peruvian pecans, is quite a popular dish in this country. You’ll also find sweets like chocotejas. These dumpling-like chocolates tend to have a fruit or nut center along with a caramel-type filling.
South America- Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
Peru is not the only part of South America where pecan trees can be found growing. Pecans grow in the countries of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, which all happen to be in the same eastern region of South America.
Brazil borders Uruguay to the north and Argentina sits in the western part of the tiny country. One thing they all have in common? Warm, subtropical environments where pecan trees can thrive.
Uruguay’s classic sandwich, the chivito, can often be found with a chicken salad that has none other than pecans mixed in. Pecan pie is a staple in Argentina’s dessert world, and pecan truffles can be found in Brazil.
Do Pecans Only Grow on Trees?
Pecan trees are deciduous trees that are part of the hickory genus and produce a drupe that is often referred to as pecans or pecan nuts.
Pecans only grow on these trees, which tend to grow quite tall and wide. Unlike some species, the pecan tree only grows as a tree, not a bush or any other type of plant.
So, yes. You will only find pecans growing on trees in environments that are humid and subtropical, with sand that is loamy, fertile, and well-drained.
How Do Pecans Actually Form and Grow on a Tree?
Pecan trees grow naturally in groves, where trees are close to one another. Their roots system can go for twice as far as their canopies – so close is a relative term.
You may also see pecan trees growing in orchards, which are more organized, man-made, rows of pecan trees. With an orchard, pecans are able to be more quickly and methodically harvested.
Generally, pecan trees that have matured enough to bear fruit will be between the ages of 4 and 12. The age of maturity will depend on factors like weather, planting time, and overall maintenance.
Breakdown of the Requirements To Grow A Pecan Tree
Now you know a bit more about the history of pecan trees, where they grow, and what temperatures they thrive in – let’s break it down, so you can easily remember some key facts about growing a pecan tree if you desire to do so!
- Temperature: Your pecan tree will do best in a range of 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can survive in extremely low temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Soil: Sandy, loamy soil, or even more clay-based soil is going to be best for growing a pecan tree successfully. Overall, fertile and well-drained soil is key!
- Sun: Sunny conditions are great for pecans! They should get about 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, to keep them happy.
- Timing: February, or another time close to late winter and early spring like March, is the best time you could plant your pecan tree. This allows the winter frost to have died out but enough time for your tree to settle in before the blooming season and warm weather sees soil getting drier.
- Rainfall: 1-2 inches of rainfall a week is necessary to keep your pecan tree well. If the tree is still maturing, it will need more water. If it is a particularly dry summer, it will also need more water. Use a Flantor Garden Irrigation System if you need to help your tree get the proper amount of water.
- Fertilizer: Pecan palm trees will thrive with a fertilizer like Carl Pool Pecan Special Fertilizer. Its NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) balance is 18-6-6, so your tree gets some extra nitrogen and an otherwise balanced fertilizer to help it grow quickly.
Why Are Hardiness Zones Important?
As promised, before we go – I wanted to let you know a little more about hardiness zones and why they’re important!
Firstly, to understand hardiness zones, you should be familiar with the way that they are broken down!
Zones Are Split
Zones are split into 10-degree intervals with numbers to label them and then further broken up into 5-degree intervals noted by the sub-labels of A or B.
For example, say you are looking at an area that is categorized as hardiness zone 8a. You know that 8 signifies the 10-degree (Fahrenheit) range of 10 to 20 degrees, but since you see a the area is actually in the narrowed-down range of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
They Tell You How Cold Hardy The Plant Is
The temperatures that you see in these hardiness zones are not just average temperatures, though.
The term hardiness refers to how cold hardy a plant is, or how viable it is that it will thrive in certain extreme cold temperatures.
So, the hardiness zone 8a would mean that this area has extreme minimum temperatures, on average, of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. When you know what trees can survive this, including pecan trees, you’ll have an idea of what plants you can grow in your zone.
Hardiness Zones Help you See Which Plants Can Survive A Winter
Keep in mind that this is an average extreme low temperature, so hardiness zones don’t just refer to the typical cold weather of a region.
These zones are specifically designed to see what plants will be able to survive during a winter where temperatures hit extreme lows.
Generally, pecan trees like low temperatures of about 40 degrees and prefer not to go over 80 degrees in the summer.
However, based on what they can physically withstand, the average extremely low temperature a pecan tree can handle ranges from -20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now that you know more about where pecan trees grow – it’s time to go!
It’s Time To Go
Pecan trees prefer areas that are hot and humid, bordering on subtropical.
First found in what is now Mexico and the United States, these trees have been around for a long time, and served as a great source of food far before European populations began to cultivate them.
These trees have since spread across the world, but are a very common plant to find in much of their native continent of North America.
Here are the 7 most common places where pecan trees grow:
- United States- Southeast
- Mexico- North
- South Africa- North
- China
- Australia
- Peru
- Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
With that, happy planting. Oh, and best of luck as you continue on your tree journey!
References
Onunkwo, I. M., & Epperson, J. E. (2000). Export demand for US pecans: Impacts of US export promotion programs. Agribusiness: An International Journal, 16(2), 253-265.
Orona Castillo, I., Sangerman-Jarquín, D. M., Cervantes Vázquez, M. G., Espinoza Arellano, J. D. J., & Núñez Moreno, J. H. (2019). The production and commercialization of pecan nut in Mexico. Revista mexicana de ciencias agrícolas, 10(8), 1797-1808.
Wood, B. W., Payne, J. A., & Grauke, L. J. (1994). An overview of the evolution of the US pecan industry. Pecan technology, 1-11.
