Carya illinoinensis Pawnee - Pecan Tree

Carya illinoinensis Pawnee is a recent variety of Pecan tree with many advantages. Its size is more moderate than that of other varieties, and it bears fruit early in the season, as early as October, producing large, high-quality nuts. It is a hardy tree, but it requires warm and long summers to bear fruit. That's why it is preferable to plant it in mild climates, even though its hardiness extends elsewhere. It is best planted in the spring, in neutral to slightly acidic and moist or even humid soil. This variety is partially self-fertile.

Native to North America, Carya illinoinensis is a large tree, with the type species reaching 20 to 40m (66 to 131ft) in height and over 10m (33ft) in diameter. It belongs to the Juglandaceae family, like the Walnut tree. Its deciduous leaves are elongated, with 11 to 13 leaflets. Green in colour, they then take on a beautiful golden hue in the autumn. Male flowers appear at the end of March, in the form of long yellow catkins. They are followed by the formation of young shoots and then discreet female flowers. Although both male and female flowers are borne on the same tree, the flowering periods are different.

This 'Pawnee' variety, a Pecan tree from group A, is partially self-fertile and can therefore self-pollinate. However, cross-pollination between two trees will enhance fruiting. In this case, it is recommended to plant another tree from group B (at a distance of 15 to 50 m (49 to 164ft) from 'Pawnee'), such as the varieties 'Shoshoni', 'Mohawk', 'Apache', 'Kiowa', 'Mahan', 'Sioux', 'Wichita', or 'Tejas'.

This Pecan tree will form a moderate-sized tree, 10 m (33ft) tall, or even 12 m (39ft), and 8 to 10 m (26 to 33ft) wide. It produces large nuts of excellent quality, sweet in taste and with a high oil content. Fruiting is relatively early and usually occurs in October. This variety is very productive but does not seem to be greatly affected by alternate bearing, thus providing regular harvests from year to year.

The fruit of the Pecan tree is a drupe, with a fleshy green outer covering. This covering, called the husk, opens at maturity, releasing a shell containing the pecan nut. Harvesting takes place from late summer into autumn. The pecan nut, similar in taste to the 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 less bulky than other varieties, but it still requires a certain amount of space for planting, especially if a second tree is added for cross-pollination. Additionally, it enjoys coolness 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.