Plant Details

Carya illinoinensis

Pecans

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Common names

34 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • hardy pecan[2]
  • nogal morado[2]
  • nuez encarcelada[2]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Pecannoot
  • rimpelnoot
French
Alabama
  • Ochahobaski[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 碧根果[2]
  • 美国山核桃[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 碧根果樹[2]
  • 美洲山核桃[2]
Estonian
  • pekani-hikkoripuu[2]
German
  • Pekannussbaum[2]
Hebrew
  • אגוז פקאן[2]
  • פקאן[2]
Japanese
  • ペカン[2]
  • ペカンヒッコリー[2]
Kiowa
  • ch'iłxashéé[2]
Miami
  • kaanseenseemini[2]
Mvskoke
  • ocē-cvpko ’mvpe[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Кария пекан[2]
  • Пекан обыкновенный[2]
Slovak
  • hikória illinoiská[2]
Spanish
  • Nogal de nuez lisa[2]
  • pacana[2]
Turkish
  • pikan cevizi[2]
Ukrainian
  • Гікорі-пекан[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Pecan — VernacularName.tsv, line 154689; taxon 8L3D2.
[2] Carya illinoinensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • pecan — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • pacana — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Nogal de nuez lisa — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • pacana — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • פקאן — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • אגוז פקאן — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Пекан обыкновенный — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Noz-Pecan — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • ペカン — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • ペカンヒッコリー — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • pacanier — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • pekani-hikkoripuu — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Ochahobaski — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • 美国山核桃 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • 美洲山核桃 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • 碧根果樹 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • 碧根果 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • pikan cevizi — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Кария пекан — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Pekannussbaum — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • ch'iłxashéé — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • kaanseenseemini — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • softshell hickory — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • ocē-cvpko ’mvpe — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • hardy pecan — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • sweet pecan — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • nogal morado — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • nuez encarcelada — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • nuez pecana — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • hikória illinoiská — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.
  • Гікорі-пекан — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 67593; Carya illinoinensis.

General information

Scientific name: Carya illinoinensis
Accepted name (Kew): Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Juglandaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Carya (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Pecans
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 30.00 m
Spread: 23.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Milk, Oil, Tea, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Wood, Parasiticide, Oil, Carbon farming

Description

Seeds can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a sweet and delicious flavor, making them ideal for desserts and are often added to ice cream, pastries, bread, and more. The seeds can also be used to make milk, which can be used as a thickening agent for soups, cornbread, hominy, and other dishes. The seeds can grow up to 4 cm in length and grow in clusters of 3 to 11. They ripen in the fall and can be stored in their shell in a cool place for at least 6 months. Additionally, edible oil can be extracted from the seeds. It is said that the leaves can be used to make tea. This plant is an important crop in agriculture and produces oil as a primary product.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 15/11

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 756174; name ID 2701738; Carya Nutt.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1337705; name ID 2701784; Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Carya illinoinensis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 3395199, ID 8L3D2: Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch (accepted).

    Source checked on .