Pecan Tree

Pecan Tree

Jun 11, 2018 | Native Trees, News, Science

Unique Trees of North Texas:

Pecan

(Carya illinoinensis)

By Laura M. Miller

The pecan is an overachieving member of the Juglandaceae (Walnut) family and a large growing, long lived, nut producing tree native to North Texas. A mature tree can be over 100 feet tall and 100 feet wide with a lifespan of over 300 years. The native range of the pecan stretches from Northern Mexico to Northern Illinois where pecans can be found along the banks of the Mississippi river almost all the way to Dubuque, Iowa.

Pecans are one of the easiest deciduous trees to identify in the winter because the shucks that protect the developing nuts usually remain attached to the stems.  The presence of nuts on the ground is also an excellent indication that a pecan tree is nearby.  Pecans produce alternately attached large pinnately compound leaves with 9-17 leaflets.  In spring, they are one of the last trees to leaf out.   Separate male (catkins) and female flowers are produced soon after bud break. The female flowers are borne in clusters on the tips of branches.  The year of a heavy pecan crop, one where nut clusters develop on 50% or more of the branch terminals, are usually followed by a year of light production.  Pecan leaves turn yellow before falling from the tree around the time of our first frost.  Falling leaves are soon followed by falling nuts. Because they smell and look a lot alike, pecan trees can be confused with Black Walnut, Juglans nigra, or any of the nine species of hickory that are native to Texas.  They are sometimes mistaken for other commonly planted species with similar pinnately compound leaves such as Chinese Pistache, Pistacia chinensis, or the native Western Soapberry, Sapindus saponaria, both producers of inedible berries rather than delicious nuts.

National Champion Pecan Photo

The National Champion pecan in Parker County near Weatherford. It is 98 feet tall with a spread of 120 feet and a circumference that measured 268 inches.

Long before being named the State Tree of Texas in 1919, the pecan played an important role in Texas history.  When Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked in Texas in 1528, he documented the pecan as an important dietary staple of the Native Americans he encountered.  Pecans were gathered in the fall and eaten through the winter months when food was scarce. Today residents of North Texas can gather or purchase pecans and keep them in the freezer for those times when food is scarce.  A one ounce serving of pecans provides 3g dietary fiber (11% Daily Value), 3g plant protein, mostly monounsaturated fat and significant quantities of Thiamin, Beta carotene, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, and Zinc.

Native pecan trees are found primarily in deep alluvial soils near rivers and streams and are especially abundant along the major rivers of North Texas, the Red, Trinity, and Brazos.  Pecans can be planted at any site in North Texas that can accommodate a large shade tree.

Native pecan trees produce nuts that vary in size, shell to nut ratio, and flavor, Since the 1880s, which is not very long for a cultivated crop, horticulturist have been selecting the best native trees for propagation.  In the 1930s, the United States Department of Agriculture began a pecan breeding program that continues to this day in Brownwood and College Station.  Many of the most highly recommended cultivars for the Cross Timbers have come from this program including Caddo, Oconee, Pawnee, Kanza, Nacono, Sioux and Wichita.  Desirable, the leading cultivar in the state that produces the most pecans whose name must not be mentioned, is also an excellent choice.  The sentimental favorite is probably Burkett, a native selection widely distributed by J.H. Burkett North Central Texas in the 20s and 30s. The trees of cultivars made famous by Arlington nurseryman O.S.Gray in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s such as GraKing and GraTex still grow in many Arlington landscapes.

Even though no other shade tree offers the key ingredient to delicious pies, pralines, cookies, and German Chocolate Cake frosting, pecans do have some negative qualities as landscape trees.  They are messy dropping not just nuts in the fall but also leaves and petioles that don’t rake up easily.  In the spring those male flowers can be almost as much trouble to clean up as the leaves in the fall.  Couple this with a tendency to drop branches due to shade, heavy nut crops and possibly just because they want to, and you have a tree that is exceptionally well suited to someone who very much enjoys picking up sticks (and leaves, and petioles, and catkins).  Like most plants that produce something good to eat, pecan trees will attract lots of birds, especially crows, squirrels, racoons, and foraging neighbors.  Insects are also fond of pecans, and you can expect Pecan Nut Casebearers, Hickory Shuckworms, and Fall webworms. Pecan scab is a serious fungal disease problem east of I-35 and can be problematic here if environmental conditions are conducive to disease development.  Fortunately, there are many excellent cultivars that are scab resistant.  Pecans grown on high pH calcareous soils benefit from foliar zinc sprays.

The National Champion pecan (pictured above) is in Parker County near Weatherford. In the Palo Pinto town of Oran, the Goodnight-Loving Pecan sheltered the 1866 partnership of cattlemen Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving. In Fort Worth, the Hollow Pecan of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (RIP 2014) no longer shelters small children hiding from their parents, but there are many old large native pecan trees there and across University Avenue in Trinity Park.

Black Walnut Tree

Black Walnut Tree

Apr 3, 2018 | News, Science

Unique Trees of North Texas:

Black Walnut

(Juglans nigra)

By Jeremy Priest

The next tree in our unique tree series is native from South Dakota to Florida and follows the eastern edge of the Cross Timber region to Central Texas. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) has been a prized tree for historic farmland and ranches. This is due in part to valuable walnuts and characteristic heartwood of the tree, but also for it’s indication of soil quality. Black walnut is typically found on deep, rich soils and the wood of this tree is hardy and has beautiful, highly valued grain. The large walnuts produced by this species are difficult to extract, but highly rewarding.

Black walnut full leaf and walnut fruit

Black walnut leaf and fruit

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Black walnut is most likely be confused with pecan as it is in the same family and may occur in similar sites. It’s plantation usage was not nearly as popular as pecan in North Texas, but individuals can sometimes be found near old pecan plantations. Black walnut can be distinguished as it contains more leaflets than pecan and the leaf is larger: 12-24 inches long. Chinese pistache has similar leaves, although the leaflets on pistache have smooth margins while black walnut typically has fine serration. This species is most quickly identified by it’s fruit. Walnuts appear dark brown and furrowed after the outer layer is removed, but are covered by a thick, green husk with almost sandpaper like texture when they are immature on the tree. As the fruit matures, the outer husk changes color to nearly black and the husk is absorbed into surrounding soil. Black walnut is an allelopath, which means that it produces chemicals toxic to most other plants. This natural herbicide is concentrated in the husk surrounding the walnut and helps reduce competition for the young seedling. The toxin is not strong enough to harm most trees, but could impact sensitive garden plants and some conifers, especially under a fully mature tree. For more information on juglone toxicity click here.

As evidenced by the naturally allelopathic seeds, black walnut needs full sun when young, and the tree also requires adequate water in well-drained soil. Although the native black walnut prefers a lower pH than typically found in the cross timbers (< 7.5), Texas A&M produces a Texas variety of little walnut (Juglans microcarpa) which is better suited to high pH soils. Black walnut can be somewhat slow growing, except when planted in ideal conditions. Black walnut is similar to post oak in that it produces deep roots and is not easily transplanted; however, the demand for black walnut seedlings is high enough that nurseries do produce seedlings available to the public, mostly in bare root form.

The state champion black walnut in Bowie County (Northeast Texas) is 56 inches in diameter and 80 feet tall with 177 feet of spread. Extremely large black walnut are possible in North Central Texas as one Dallas County specimen is 65 feet tall with a 69 foot spread. However, most individuals could be expected to reach 40 feet in height and 30-45 feet in width. Trees mature quickly and nut production can begin as early as 6 years, although large crops are not likely until trees are around 20 years old.

Texas Persimmon Tree

Texas Persimmon Tree

Nov 29, 2017 | Science

Unique Trees of North Texas:

 

Texas Persimmon

 

(Diospyros texana)

Texas persimmon in winter

Texas persimmon in winter

By David Coke and Gene Gehring

The Texas persimmon (aka Mexican persimmon, black persimmon, or Chapote Negro) is not to be confused with common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) which has larger fruit, a single stem, and is taller with rougher bark. Texas persimmon looks more like crapemyrtle when older, and is usually multi-stemmed with smooth bark.

 

It’s just viagra 25mg prix a plea for someone who thinks life is turning into a bit frustrating. My medicine cabinet contains no drugs of any kind or cialis 5mg price because surgery for prostate cancer, it can be treated effectively and more than 2 million men in the U.S alone are estimated to be suffering from some kind of Parkinsonism, is actually considerably greater than is currently acknowledged. The canadian viagra pills only equivalent change in men is a big deal – buying online is convenient and easy. Second, check if the school is approved in your region you may proceed with buying the medication from a vardenafil online australia store. This tree’s range is primarily in the southern half of Texas and into Mexico, particularly southwest of the Colorado River. Its native range does not extend into the upper Gulf Coast, north Texas, or far west Texas. It likes dry, rocky areas and doesn’t like “wet feet”. Planting in a yard that gets regular watering can make for an unhappy Texas Persimmon; however, this native understory tree is able to withstand some shading from larger canopy trees. Texas persimmon has been successfully planted in North Texas and can live 30 to 50 years when conditions are right.

 

It can grow to 35 ft, but is typically about 10 ft high. It has a rounded crown and a smooth, gray bark. As the tree ages, the bark will start to peel away from the trunk and reveal lighter colors underneath. It is a deciduous tree but can be evergreen in its southern areas. It has 1” to 2” oval to oblong leaves which are leathery, fuzzy underneath, and curled over on the edges. They are dioecious (separate male and female plants) and since the species is not common in the area, both sexes would need to be planted to produce fruit. They flower starting in March or April and have small white flowers. That is followed by a small, black fruit which is about ¾” and is edible when ripe. It has lots of little seeds though making that difficult. The fruit it typically ripe in August. It is also used to make a black hair dye or dying leather. Be careful, it can stain the skin black as well. The fruit is enjoyed by a wide range of birds and mammals. Its tough, dark heart wood was used for tool handles.

 

The national and state champion Texas persimmon tree is located in Ulvalde County. That individual is 26 ft tall, has a 22 in diameter, and shades an area 31 ft across.

Anacacho Orchid Tree

Anacacho Orchid Tree

Aug 29, 2017 | Science

Unique Trees of North Texas:  Anacacho Orchid Tree (Bauhinia lunarioides)

The Anacacho Orchid Tree is a unique tree not seen often in the North Texas area. It is a small tree in the Fabaceae family which grows to approximately 15 feet tall. It is reportedly native to only a few canyons in western central Texas and in adjacent northeastern Mexico. It generally grows in a bush form but can be trained into a single-trunk tree. The leaves are bi-lobed almost like a small split Red Bud leaf or a cow hoof shape. The one pictured blooms bright white clusters of flowers in the spring and then forms flattened seed pods much like a Red Bud tree. There is also a Mexican Bauhinia that blooms light pink clusters of flowers.

The Anacacho Orchid Tree can grow in full sun or as an understory specimen. It is very drought tolerant, requires good drainage, and will tolerate different soil types other than the typical limestone soils of where it is native. North of Austin it will freeze during heavy winters but since it grows so rapidly it forms a new tree in less than a growing season.
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If you might like to try growing an Anacacho Orchid Tree it is best that it be planted on the south side of your home or where it is shielded from the north and west winter weather.