Pecan Trees

Pecan Trees in Australia

Being a very long lived and easy care, Pecan trees are an excellent nut tree for many areas of Australia. They do need high temperatures to produce good crops although a winter cool enough to produce adequate chill is also required. One of the few problems with climate is dry spring to summer, commercial plantations are often irrigated. The other issue is frost in late spring.

Description and Uses

Pecan Nut trees are a large hardy deciduous tree growing to approx 30m depending on variety and conditions.

Native to America the Pecan tree is Carya illinoensis and is a large commercial crop with the nuts being exported world wide. In Australia a fledging industry is starting up looking at the Chinese market.

Most commercial operations in Australia are in Northern New South Wales with a processing plant located in Toowoomba.

The Pecan is grown for its soft shelled edible nuts, used in cooking, praline candy and desserts and of course the famous ‘Pecan Pie’.

Timber can be used for furniture and is also used to flavour some smoked meats. Pecans prefer a hot humid summer.

Summary

• Height – These are a tall tree growing to 20 meters plus,  although often pruned in commercial plantations.
• Position – Full sun for good nut production.
• Soil – Humus rich well drained with water in spring and summer.

Pecan Tree Varieties

In Australia the number of varieties available are limited

• Witchita – Widely grown however for best crops they do need a well drained soil and access to irrigation during dry summers. Consistent moisture is the key.
• Western Schley – Good heavy cropping variety that will tend to drop fruit in very good seasons.
• Mohawks – Very large nuts and a heavy cropper.
• Apaches – Not as popular as others however a valuable source of root stock.

Other varieties include : Shoshoni, Desirable, Cape Fear, Pawnee and Cheyenne,

WHOLESALE PECAN TREE NURSERIES