Pecan

Large deciduous shade tree reaching 70-100+ feet, excellent for spacious landscapes and orchards. Provides deep shade with spreading canopy, works as specimen tree, windbreak, or grove planting. Requires full sun and deep, well-drained soil with ample space for extensive root system. Cross-pollination needed for nut production.

Native Americans used pecan leaf tea for treating rheumatism and as an astringent. Bark preparations were employed for digestive issues and as an anti-inflammatory. The oil-rich nuts provide healthy fats, protein, and minerals supporting heart health. Traditional uses include treating respiratory ailments and skin conditions with various plant parts.

Prized nuts eaten fresh, roasted, or used in classic dishes like pecan pie, pralines, and butter pecan ice cream. Excellent in both sweet and savory applications - salads, stuffings, baked goods, and confections. Pecan oil serves as gourmet cooking oil with high smoke point. Shells can be used for smoking meats, imparting mild, sweet flavor.

Native to North American river bottoms, supporting diverse wildlife. Nuts feed squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, and numerous bird species. Host plant for several moth species including the hickory horned devil. Deep taproot prevents erosion and improves soil structure. Provides nesting sites and shelter for various birds and mammals.

Alternate compound leaves with 9-17 lance-shaped leaflets, yellowish-green and slightly curved. Distinctive grayish-brown bark with irregular furrows and ridges. Male catkins appear in spring, female flowers small and inconspicuous. Oblong nuts in green husks that split into four sections when ripe, revealing smooth, brown, oval shells.

Beautiful hardwood with reddish-brown heartwood and lighter sapwood, similar to hickory but slightly softer. Used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and paneling. Takes stain well with attractive grain patterns. Popular for tool handles due to shock resistance. Not typically used for structural timber due to limited availability and higher value for nuts.

State tree of Texas, with some specimens living over 300 years. Name derives from Algonquian word meaning 'nut requiring stone to crack.' Apollo 14 carried pecan seeds to the moon in 1971. Largest native nut tree in North America. Trees can produce nuts for over 100 years, with some ancient trees still bearing after 200+ years.