Pecan
Carya illinoinensis
Also called Pecan nut and Pecan tree
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitBe honest about this one: it makes a fine big tree in Britain and will almost certainly never ripen a nut, because it wants a long hot summer we do not get. Plant it for the tree, and count any crop as a surprise.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Very hard
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 60 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 20 m tall · 12 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- The Mississippi valley
Is it safe for pets and people?
Its genus has been checked and nothing in it is listed as harmful — but this particular species has not been listed either way.
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
ASPCA does not name this species. It lists thirteen other hickories, all non-toxic and none toxic, so the verdict is carried at genus level.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- Husks that split on time in October with a flat, papery shell inside and no kernel. There was not enough summer heat to fill it — in Britain this is the usual outcome and not a disease.Nuts that never fill · disorder
- A young tree that sits and sulks for two seasons after planting. It makes a deep tap root very early, so it hates being moved — plant the smallest one you can buy, not the biggest.Transplant shock · disorder