Carya illinoinensis Mohawk - Pecan Tree

The Carya illinoinensis Mohawk (or Pecan Tree) is a medium-sized, hardy tree, but it needs warm and long summers to bear fruit. That's why it is preferable to plant it in mild climates, even though its hardiness extends beyond such areas. This highly productive variety produces pecan nuts as early as September. It is best planted in spring, in neutral to slightly acidic and moist or even wet soil. This variety is partially self-fertile.

Native to North America, Carya illinoinensis is a large tree, with the typical species measuring 20 to 40 metres (66 to 131 feet) in height and 10 metres (33 feet) or more in diameter. It belongs to the Juglandaceae family, like the Walnut. Its deciduous leaves are elongated, composed of 11 to 13 leaflets. Green in colour, they then take on a beautiful golden hue in autumn. The pecan tree is hardy, tolerating cold winters down to -15°C, but it needs long and hot summers to bear fruit. Male flowers appear from the end of March, in the form of long yellow catkins. They are followed by the growth of young shoots and then by discreet female flowers. Although male and female flowers are borne on the same tree, their flowering periods are different.

This 'Mohawk' variety, quite old, was obtained by hybridisation in 1946 in Texas. It produces large nuts, but of average quality compared to more recent hybrids. The production can be irregular depending on the years and fruiting occurs after 4 to 5 years. It is a medium-sized tree, measuring 15 metres (49 feet) in height, even 20 metres (66 feet), and 10 to 15 metres (33 to 49 feet) wide. It is a partially self-fertile Pecan Tree of group B, which can therefore be self-sufficient. However, cross-pollination between two trees will favour fruiting. In this case, it is recommended to plant another subject from group A (at a distance of 15 to 50 metres (49 to 164 feet) from 'Mohawk') such as the varieties 'Cape Fear', 'Cherokee', 'Cheyenne', 'Desirable', 'Pawnee' or 'Western Schley'.

The fruit of the Pecan Tree is a drupe, with a fleshy and green outer shell. This shell, called a husk, opens at ripeness, releasing a shell containing the pecan nut. Harvesting takes place from the end of summer and throughout autumn. The pecan nut, similar in taste to a walnut, has a smoother kernel. The shells can be stored for several months in a cool and dry place. Pecan nuts can be eaten on their own or used in pastries.

This Pecan Tree is best suited for larger gardens, especially if a second subject is added for cross-pollination. It enjoys moisture and regular watering, so an ample water supply is necessary, which is not always the case in hotter regions. In southern areas it can be added to an irrigated orchard consisting of fig trees, citrus trees, jujube trees, and other species that bear fruit in warm climates.