The pecan trees are the heritage of North America and originated from the Algonquin work known as Pacane. These pecan trees belong to the hickory tree, and there are different varieties and types of pecans available around the world. If you are looking for details about what does a pecan tree look like, then if you find a tree forming brown colored nuts of oval and pointed shape, you can say they are pecans.
The United States is known to be the biggest producer of these pecan trees. Pecans are one the biggest cash crops in Georgia, and you can say that they are the top-producing state available after the 1800s. If you want complete information about how they look and how you can identify a pecan tree, this article works as an ultimate guide for you.
How to Identify a Pecan Tree
Identifying a pecan tree can be challenging, and you might have difficulty identifying them among other nut-producing trees. Many characteristics of pecan trees make them look like other trees, but here are some of the important pointers that will help you identify pecan trees:
Bark and Trunk
The pecan trees have straight, tall, and thick tree trunks. They also have a light brown or reddish-brown bark. The trunk of pecan trees grows to be scalier and flatter along with the tree’s maturation. The bark and trunk of pecan make it different from many others.
Flower
Pecan trees are monoecious, they have male along with female reproductive organs. The male and female flowers are different but tend to grow on the same tree. There are changes in the properties of these male and female flowers, the male flower swings from the branches in the form of clusters, and these clusters are known as the catkins of the pecan. Female flowers are beneath these catkins, they are cup-shaped and open and catch pollen easily.
Growth Rate
The growth rate of pecan trees is very slow, they will grow a maximum of 1 to 2 feet in a year. Pecan trees need almost 10 years to mature, and then they form nuts. The growth rate is slow, which is why the maturation takes time, and once maturation occurs, you can see nuts on these trees more often.
Location
If you keep your pecan trees in a warm environment, they will survive easily. There are different areas in North America where you can easily find these trees such as Texas and the Atlantic Ocean. Pecan trees are much bigger, making them impossible to grow in your background. But you might find them in different commercial areas such as commercial woods, estate plots, and other orchards.
Tree Size
The size of the trees is different, and there is a huge range of trees as they belong to the hickory family. The largest specimen of pecan tree can grow to the maximum height of 150 feet, but this takes a lot of years. The 150-foot-tall pecan tree is on the record, and it is the largest pecan tree known today. On average, the range of height of these pecan trees ranges from 70 to 100 feet tall. The canopy of these trees is very dense and thick and spreads between 40 to 75 feet.
What Does a Pecan Tree Leaves Look Like
Leaves help in the true identity of pecan trees, and you need to look at the leaves to ensure they are pecan trees. Pecan trees are similar to many other trees of the hickory family. But there are small things that you need to keep in mind to identify pecan leaves.
If the leaves are less than 2 years old, and the tree is still young, then classification might be difficult and the size of the leaves maximum 12 inches long. But if the pecan tree is more than 2 years old, the pecan tree leaves will be more than 12 inches long up to 20 inches.
Here are some of the other identification factors of pecan trees:
Check Color
Pecan trees have a dark green color on the upper side of the leaves and a pale green color on the underside. The leaves fade away in fall, and they know a yellow shade. If you see this color-changing pattern in the leaves of the pecan, this means that it is a pecan tree.
Smell the Leaves
There is a unique scent of the leaves, if you have once smelled a pecan leaf, you will surely identify it again. These pecan leaves have a strong and intense aroma because you can easily identify them with their different smells.
Count the Leaflets
Pecan trees produce compound pinnate leaves, which helps identify these pecan trees. Several smaller leaves and other leaflets are present on the stems, making the leaves look different. There are almost 9 to 13 leaflets on each stem; you can pick several leaves and start counting the number of leaflets to identify pecans. In some old and mature pecan trees, there might be more than 17 leaflets.
Stem-Leaf Design
There are different stem-leaf designs, and you can easily see and witness the stem-leaf design on the tree. Some leaves will sit across from one another on the stem, and other pecan leaflets will alternate on how they sit on the stem.
Pecan Tree Nut Identification
You can also identify your pecan tree based on its nuts:
Color
The pecan nuts are sometimes lighter brown, or there might be some dark stripes on them as well. The nuts are elongating and have oval husks; they stay close, and the nut increases in size. When these nuts mature, they turn brown, then, you can estimate that it is time to open them.
Ripening Method
Pecans are ripe in clusters of 3 to 11, and these nuts are set apart and fall into the hickory family when they fall from tree on ripening.
Ripening Time
Pecan nuts rip in autumn, and the time needed for these pecans to ripe depends on the season and zone where the tree is growing. Their nuts grow differently in different time zones, you can easily figure out the zone and then the time needed for ripening.
Pecan Tree Care Tips
If you decide on harvesting pecan trees, they need special care, and you need to keep them dry before storing them. Dry your pecans by spreading them on a thin layer of plastic sheet and then cross some air circulation. You must also keep the lighting low and spread them nicely on the sheet. To speed up the drying process, stir continuously and put a fan near it.
Pecans are large trees that might take 2 to 10 days to dry. When they dry, the kernels of the tree become brittle, and you can easily pull them apart. In this way, you can keep the nuts and store them in the refrigerator and freezer for a long time. You can also store the whole kernels by maintaining the temperature at 32F for two and more years. In this way, you can also keep them in the freezer by maintaining the temperature at 1F.
Conclusion
If you want to know what does a pecan tree look like? This article explores complete information, and there are several methods of pecan tree identification listed in this article that you can follow if you want to identify pecan trees. If a tree has thicker trunks, monecious, pointed and oval nuts, and dark green leaves, then it’s a pecan tree. This guide will help you spot pecan trees if they grow in the southern and warmer regions of the US.
FAQs
1. How Do You Tell If It Is a Pecan Tree?
You need to check for the identification patterns such as; the smell of leaves, 11 to 17 leaflets, and other identification mentioned above. If you see the wrinkled trunk and male and female reproductive parts on the same trees but on the same flower, you can tell it is a pecan tree.
2. Is Pecan the Same as Walnut?
Walnuts are much more expensive, while pecans are sweeter, smaller, and much lower than walnuts. There is a higher degree of fiber and vitamin E in the nuts. At the same time, walnuts are large and have more texture than pecan. There is a rich protein content and micronutrients in these walnuts.
3. What Are the Health Benefits of Pecan?
Pecans are beneficial nuts with many health benefits such as they are a rich source of calcium, monounsaturated fat, potassium, and magnesium. They keep a person energized and healthy by keeping their blood pressure low.