Pecan

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

A deciduous Tree growing to 50 m (160ft) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 5. The nuts ripen in October. The flowers are pollinated by wind. The plant is self-fertile.

The kernels are sweet and delicious, they make an excellent dessert and are also often added to ice cream, used in cakes, bread etc. The nut can be up to 4cm long and is produced in clusters of 3 to 11.

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development. There are cultivars known as Northern Pecans, which can produce. A tree at Cambridge botanical gardens was 20 metres tall in 1985.