Nursery / Tree
Carya illinoinensis

Pecan Tree

A large, long-lived native nut tree - a genuine legacy planting that begins bearing after roughly a decade and can remain productive for well over a century.

Pecan Tree

Pecan is a commitment in scale and in time. Mature trees reach 70 feet or more with an equally wide canopy, so this is a tree for a property with real room, not a small suburban lot. In exchange for that space, you get one of the most valuable native nut trees available, with a productive lifespan measured in generations, not decades.

First nut production typically begins around 8-10 years, with the tree reaching its real productive stride well beyond that. This is a tree planted for the person who will inherit the property, as much as for whoever plants it.

Common questions

Before you plant.

  • How much space does it actually need?A great deal - mature trees reach 70-100 feet with a proportionally wide canopy. This is not a tree for a small or midsize residential lot.
  • Do I need two trees?Yes. Pecan requires a second, genetically distinct variety nearby for reliable pollination.
  • How long until it produces nuts?First nuts typically arrive around 8-10 years, with the tree reaching full productive maturity well beyond that.
  • Is it worth planting if I might not see it fully mature?For many of our clients, that is exactly the point - this is a planting for whoever inherits the property next.
  • Will pecans ripen this far north?Northern-adapted varieties do. Southern varieties often run out of season before their nuts fill.
  • When are nuts ready?In fall, when the husks split and nuts begin to drop.

    • Planting & Growing Information

    Ships as
    1-gallon, 3-gallon, field-grown by arrangement
    Hardiness zone
    6-9
    Mature height
    70-100 ft
    Water needs
    Moderate to high, deep infrequent watering once established
    Sun / shade
    Full sun
    Bloom season
    Late spring, wind-pollinated catkins
    Care
    Minimal once established, needs significant open space
    Attributes
    Requires a second variety for pollination, extremely long-lived, native
    Ships to
    Most US states. We do not currently ship live plants to California, Arizona, Hawaii, or Florida due to state agricultural restrictions. Local pickup is available in Great Falls, Virginia.
    Plants that pair well

    Good company
    for your pecan tree.

    Chestnut Tree
    Chestnut Tree
    Another large-scale nut tree for a mixed nut orchard planting.
    Oak Tree
    Oak Tree
    A native canopy companion suited to the same scale of planting.
    Yarrow
    Yarrow
    A low-maintenance ground layer for the wide open space beneath a young pecan.
    Native pecan

    A nut tree
    planted for the next generation.

    Pecan is a native hickory and one of the largest, longest-lived nut trees in North America. A mature tree is a landmark on a property.

    It is a slow start, around 8 to 10 years to first nuts, but a healthy tree can keep producing for well over a century.

    In the Mid-Atlantic, northern-adapted varieties with shorter seasons fill their nuts more reliably than the Southern varieties sold in most catalogs.

    • Northern-adapted varietiesShorter-season pecans suited to Zone 6 and 7.
    • Pollination pairsTwo varieties that shed pollen at complementary times.
    • Field-grown treesLarger trees by arrangement.
    • Current stockInventory varies by season and batch. Contact us to confirm what is available now, and in what size.

    What to know before you buy

    Plant at least two compatible varieties. Pecans are wind-pollinated and rarely set nuts alone.

    Pecans grow a deep taproot early. Plant young trees and do not move them once established.

    Give each tree 40 feet or more of space, in full sun and deep, well-drained soil.

    Water deeply during dry spells while young, and through late summer when nuts are filling.

    Sizes and formats

    What we ship.

    Plants ship in the dormant seasons, late fall and early spring, with local pickup in Great Falls. Availability changes by batch, so ask if you need a particular size.

    Pecan Tree
    Pecan Tree
    Carya illinoinensis
    Native pecan in northern-adapted varieties, sold as pollination pairs for a legacy nut crop.
    NativeFood bearingTree
    Available as: 1-gallon, 3-gallon, field-grown by arrangement
    Wholesale and bulk

    Planting at scale.

    We supply landscapers, nurseries, farms and larger residential projects with pecan tree in quantity. Stock is seasonal and limited, so get in touch ahead of your planting window and we will plan around your order.

    Ask about wholesale →
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    Planning an orchard, guild or garden around this plant? An on-site consult in the DC area starts at $250, a written Remote Strategy at $1,500, or start small with a free guide.