Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - November 14, 2013
From: Delano, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Edible Plants, Trees
Title: Can I make my large pecan trees produce larger nuts?
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
I have 2 older large pecan trees about 40' tall but the nuts are very small, only about 1 1/2". What can I do to get larger nuts?ANSWER:
Carya illinoinensis (Pecan) is a tree native to the Mississippi Valley. It prefers a deep soil and needs lots of water to produce good nuts. Perhaps your trees are not situated in an ideal spot for producing large nuts. However, I believe that your trees are native pecans, which normally produce nuts about the size you mentioned. Over the years plant breeders have developed pecan varieties with much larger nuts , and these so-called papershell pecans are probably what you were hoping to have. This description gives you more information about the differences between native and papershell pecan nuts. In my own opinion and that of many others, the native pecans, though small and hard to crack, have a taste superior to many papershell varieties.
More Trees Questions
Foundation Landscape Tree Suggestion for New Jersey
March 05, 2013 - I need to replace a shrub (boxwood) in a landscaped area directly in front of my house. I would like a tree that grows about 10-15' maximum. However, I have a drainpipe that runs from the house to th...
view the full question and answer
Why is my Chinkapin oak losing its leaves this spring?
June 02, 2009 - We have a chinkapin oak that was planted about two years ago in our front yard. This year it leafed out nicely but about a month ago the leaves began to roll up, then dry out and fall off. It seems ...
view the full question and answer
Native Trees for Pflugerville TX
September 28, 2013 - I'm looking for suggestions on native, drought tolerant conifers that can be located in a Pflugerville landscape under overhead electric lines. Open to Arizona Cypress, but concerned about the height...
view the full question and answer
Holding an Acer rubrum in a container for two years
October 10, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I am thinking about ordering a Red Maple tree that is cultivated from Mount Vernon. I appreciate the historic nature of such a tree. The tree will be shipped to me and is ...
view the full question and answer
Watering live oak trees from McAllen TX
December 24, 2012 - What are the watering requirements for live oak trees in deep south Texas? How often and how many inches to be applied? One pop-up spray sprinkler spaced approximately fifteen feet away from each tr...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |