×2Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Small mammals
- Shelter & nesting
Squirrels, deer, turkeys and jays eat the nuts, and the large canopy gives birds nesting cover.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 18–24 in tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree · edible
American Pecan
Carya illinoinensis
- Ships 18–24 in tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 5–9
- Grows 70–100 ft
$10.95Was $14.95Save 26%
No reviews yet. Be the first to reviewThe quick answer
American pecan is a large native nut tree for USDA zones 5-9 that grows 70-100 feet tall and 40-75 feet wide in full sun. Buy it for sweet edible pecans and big shade. Seedlings usually take 8-10 years to bear, and you need at least two pecan trees for good pollination.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
This plant needs a partner. A pecan tree sheds its pollen at a different time than its own flowers are ready, so you need at least two pecan trees within about 150 feet of each other for a good nut crop.
Expert recommendedPollination partners we sell
-
×2Plant 2 American PecanEach seedling is genetically different, so two or more pollinate each other.
Planting a hedge or row?
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
American Pecan plant profile
Mature size70–100 ft tall · 40–75 ft wide
Typical (70 ft)Up to 100 ft
A tall tree with a straight trunk and a broad, oval to rounded crown; it develops a deep taproot.
USDA hardiness zones5–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Needs full sun for good growth and nut production. Nuts in about 8–10 years.
SoilpH 6.0–7.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers deep, moist, rich, well-drained soil and tolerates periodic wet ground. The taproot makes it hard to move once established.
Native to the USEdible harvestPlant two or moreYellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
- Nuts in 8–10 yrs
- Edible
Small male catkins and female flower spikes appear on the same tree in spring and are not showy. Edible nuts in thin green husks ripen in fall.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow in fall. Large deciduous compound leaves with 9-17 lance-shaped leaflets turn yellow in fall.
Pests & disease
Pecan scab, pecan weevil, hickory shuckworm and aphids are the main problems.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to develop one strong central leader and remove weak, crossing or low branches.
Pollination
One American Pecan won't give you much of a crop. Two will.
Wind pollinated. Pollen release and female flowers are mostly out of sync on the same tree, so plant at least two pecan trees within about 150 feet. Shipping on one plant is $9.95 and on two it's $10.95, so the second plant adds just $1 in shipping.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$10.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your American Pecan
SPRINGLeafs out late; dangling male catkins and small female flower spikes appear.
SUMMERLarge compound leaves give dense shade; nuts develop in green husks.
LATE SUMMERHusks fill out; keep young trees watered in drought.
FALLLeaves turn yellow; husks split and nuts drop for harvest.
Questions people ask about American Pecan
Do you need two pecan trees to get nuts?
Yes, plant at least two pecan trees within about 150 feet of each other. Each tree's pollen and female flowers are mostly ready at different times, so a second tree supplies pollen when the first one needs it.
How long does it take a pecan tree to produce nuts?
A seedling pecan usually takes about 8-10 years to bear a useful crop. Full sun, deep soil and regular water in the early years help it get there.
Will pecans grow and produce in Wisconsin?
Pecan is rated hardy to zone 5, so it can survive in southern Wisconsin, but the short northern season often keeps nuts from fully ripening. In zone 4 it is not a reliable choice.
How big does a pecan tree get?
Pecan typically reaches 70-100 feet tall with a 40-75 foot spread. Give it plenty of room away from buildings and power lines.
What arrives when I order a bare-root pecan?
You receive a dormant 18-24 inch bare-root seedling with no leaves and no soil. Pecans grow a long taproot, so plant it promptly in a deep hole without bending the root.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Plant its partner nearby.
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Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension, https://pods.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/HLA-6201pod2014.pdf.