Recommended Cultivars 

Visit our website at:  http://sacs.cpes.peachnet.edu/pecan/  for more information on these and other cultivars.

'Caddo'              A consistent producer of large crops of quality kernels.  ‘Caddo is a precocious cultivar that continues to yield well as a mature tree.  Nut quality is excellent with a large percentage of fancy kernels.  Harvest averages about a week before 'Stuart'.  The main limitation to this cultivar is its smaller nut size at 67 nuts / lb.  This cultivar will need a full spray schedule to control scab and is a preferred cultivar for black aphids.

‘Cape Fear’        'Cape Fear' is a very precocious cultivar that produces well-filled nuts with attractive golden kernels as a young tree.  Mature trees tend to overbear, and summer shaking will be needed to thin excessive crops.  A big plus for 'Cape Fear' is good resistance to pecan scab in most orchards.  However, I have seen orchards where 'Cape Fear' scabs as bad as 'Desirable', so 'Cape Fear's' resistance has been overcome in some locations.  The strong tendency to alternate in combination with the growing prevalence of bacterial leaf scorch in this cultivar has led us to no longer strongly recommend ‘Cape Fear’ for Georgia.  However, this is a cultivar that should be considered by growers in need of a more scab resistant cultivar if they are willing to manage crop load.

'Desirable'          The standard of quality for commercial orchards.  Consistent production of large well-filled kernels makes this the most popular cultivar.  Scab control can be difficult in some locations, and tree structure is often poor.  Where scab can be controlled this cultivar should be the foundation of most new orchards.

'Elliot'                One of the few cultivars that does not need to be sprayed for scab protection.  The nuts are small (77 nuts / lb.) but have excellent kernel quality.  It bears alternately, but quality remains good in the “ON” years.  A good pollinator for 'Desirable' and an excellent cultivar for low-input or yard tree plantings.

'Forkert'             The outstanding feature of 'Forkert' is nut quality.  'Forkert' averaged 58% kernel over all the years tested, with more than half of the kernels rated as “fancy”.  'Forkert' is a large nut (53 nuts/lb.) with a very thin shell.  This cultivar needs full-season spray for control of scab, but resistance in most locations is superior to ‘Desirable’.

‘Kanza’             A small nut similar in size and shape to ‘Elliot’.  Harvest date is early, averaging around the first week of October.  Nuts are usually well-filled and have an attractive golden color.  Tends to bear alternately, but quality is good in the “ON” year.  Scab resistance has so far been excellent.  We recommend this cultivar for planting in northern areas where ‘Elliot’ might be damaged by spring freezes.  Most likely could be sold as ‘Elliot’ and receive similar prices.

'Kiowa'              'Kiowa' produces a large nut with a kernel similar to, but darker than, 'Desirable'.  'Kiowa's' advantage over 'Desirable' is that it will yield heavier than 'Desirable' as a young tree and it is more scab resistant.  The disadvantage of 'Kiowa' is that it tends to overbear as a mature tree, and without some form of crop thinning it will be difficult to maintain top quality with mature 'Kiowa' trees.  ‘Kiowa’s’ nuts are strongly attached to the tree and may be difficult to remove via shaking. 

'Oconee'            'Oconee' features an attractive mix of large nut size and high kernel quality. 'Oconee' has an early harvest date, averaging around October 12.  We have not had trouble controlling scab on 'Oconee' in Tifton using a standard spray regimen. 'Oconee' is a preferred cultivar for black aphids and will need to be monitored for a buildup of this pest.  Avoid crowding ‘Oconee’ trees as this seems to increase alternate bearing in this cultivar.

'Pawnee'            The most outstanding feature of 'Pawnee' is its large nut size combined with very early nut maturity. The average harvest date for 'Pawnee' at Tifton has been at least 2 weeks earlier than 'Stuart'.  No other large pecan can compete with 'Pawnee' on the early market, providing a substantial price benefit in some years. However, the early harvest dates also makes 'Pawnee' more difficult to incorporate into an existing orchard, especially if only a few trees are planted. Depredation by squirrels and especially crows can be severe if trees are isolated in an orchard among later maturing cultivars. In order to lessen depredation and facilitate prompt harvesting, 'Pawnee' trees should be planted together in relatively large blocks.  ‘Pawnee’ will require a full-season scab control, resistance is similar to ‘Desirable’.

'Sumner'            'Sumner' produced relatively large nuts of moderate to good quality. Planting of 'Sumner' has been increasing due to its superior scab resistance compared to most commercial cultivars.  The disadvantages of 'Sumner' are a late harvest date and damage from black aphids.

Cultivars Not Recommended that Have Merit in Some Situations

‘Creek’              'Creek' was released as a highly productive temporary tree that could be removed as the orchard matured.  'Creek' may be suitable under some high-density situations when the crop load is thinned, but we do not recommend it for standard orchard conditions because mature trees overload resulting in poor kernel quality.  'Creek' is reported to set good crops on shaded limbs, a desirable trait for high-density plantings.  Pest resistance of 'Creek' is very good, it tends to be an easy keeper for most disease and insect problems.  Harvest date of 'Creek' is early October, allowing it to be sold for a better price than would normally be obtained for a nut of mediocre quality.  'Creek' trees have an upright and strong tree form.

‘Moreland’         Quality of 'Moreland' is good as a young tree, with an average of about 53% kernel for years 1-10, but this declined to 50% kernel for years 11-20. 'Moreland' produces a medium sized nut.  Average nut harvest was on October 24, about a week after 'Stuart'.  'Moreland' has shown good resistance to scab in some locations, and poor resistance in others.  The tendency of 'Moreland' to alternate in production, and a reduced kernel percentage as a mature tree, may limit its usefulness for commercial plantings in Georgia.  However, in orchards where scab pressure causes large losses to more susceptible cultivars such as 'Desirable', 'Moreland' may be an alternative. 

‘Sioux’              'Sioux' trees are fast growing, vigorous, leafy, and have a strong structure.  'Sioux' kernels are usually plump and have a bright golden kernel color.  Unfortunately, 'Sioux' nuts are relatively small, coming in at about 71 nuts/lb., so 'Sioux' can not compete with large nuts like 'Desirable'.  'Sioux' is definitely scab susceptible, and it should receive a full season fungicide program and not be planted in high disease pressure situations.  'Sioux' should be considered in situations where a very high quality kernel is desired.  However, its relatively small size would probably mean that small quantities sold on the open market would not bring the price a nut of this quality deserves.

‘Stuart’              Most Georgia growers are familiar with the 'Stuart' pecan.  I hesitate to say this cultivar is no longer recommended because it has many loyal devotees and still makes up a sizable portion of the commercial acreage.  However, 'Stuart' has some important drawbacks.  'Stuart' takes a long time to come into production, especially in comparison to most newer cultivars.  In addition, the nut quality of 'Stuart' is marginal in many years.  We have trouble with this cultivar not filling well, and in those cases the kernel is often dry with a fair amount of fuzz adhering to the surface.  Yellow aphids like this cultivar and if they are not controlled the honeydew builds up on leaf surfaces leading to sooty mold which seems to adhere particularly well on 'Stuart' leaves.  'Stuart' is scab susceptible, but it is easier to control on scab on 'Stuart' than it is on 'Desirable'.  An orchard of mature 'Stuart' trees can be very profitable but I would hesitate to recommend anyone plant more of this variety.