Northern Pecan Bare Root Tree Seedlings

  • USDA Zone
    4-9
  • Plant Layer
    Overstory Tree
  • Native Range
    Mississippi Valley USA
  • Life Cycle
    Perennial

Northern Pecan trees provide delicious easy-to-crack nuts for humans, wildlife, livestock and are well suited to cooler climates in the upper USA.

$ 10.00 USD
In-Stock
Sold-Out

Northern Pecan

Carya illinoinensis

Northern Pecan Bare Root Tree Seedlings

Northern Pecan Companion Plants

Why Plant Northern Pecans trees?

Native Pecans That Keep on Giving

Northern Pecans (Carya illinoinensis) aren’t just any tree — they’re a native powerhouse that provides beauty, shade, and one of the most prized nuts in the world. These trees have been grown across the central and northern United States for generations, valued not only for their rich, buttery nuts but also for their resilience and adaptability. Northern Pecan seedlings are a low-maintenance, versatile species that appeal to humans and wildlife alike — squirrels, deer, and birds included.

What Do Northern Pecans Taste Like?

Freshly harvested Northern Pecans have a rich, buttery flavor with a subtle sweetness that makes them perfect for baking, candy, or just snacking straight from the tree. Unlike store-bought pecans that have traveled halfway across the country, home-grown nuts are fresher, more flavorful, and provide that “I grew this myself” satisfaction. Patience is key — these trees take time to mature, but the reward is more than worth it as they can serve your family for decades and decades to come.

Why Plant Our Bare Root Northern Pecan Seedlings?

Our Northern Pecan seedlings are grown outdoors in loose, fertile soil enriched with compost and mulched with local organic matter like leaves and wood chips. By growing them bare root instead of in containers, we encourage strong, deep root systems that establish quickly and thrive for decades. We do not use herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers — just natural care and attention. The seeds for our seedlings are sourced from select trees that consistently produce large, high-quality nuts. We’re proud to preserve these genetics, ensuring that each tree carries the legacy of great pecan production forward.

Northern Pecan Traits & Qualities

Other Common Names: Common Pecan, Illinois Pecan, Native Pecan
Native Range: Central and Eastern United States
Years to Bear Nuts: 5–10 years
USDA Zone Range: 4–8
Pollination: Monoecious (male and female flowers on the same tree, but cross-pollination improves yields)
Bloom Color: Greenish-yellow catkins in spring
Nut Color: Brown when mature
Nut Size: Medium to large, buttery and rich
Foliage Color: Dark green, turning yellow in fall
Bark: Gray-brown, deeply furrowed
Edible Parts: Nuts
Taste: Buttery, slightly sweet, classic pecan flavor
Culinary Uses: Baking, pies, candies, roasted snacks, and more
Life Span: 75+ years
Mature Height: 60–100 feet

Northern Pecan

USDA Zone

4-9

Northern Pecan

USDA Zone

4-9

Planting Considerations for Northern Pecan Bare Root Trees

Northern Pecans thrive in full sun and prefer well-drained soils with a loamy texture, though they can tolerate heavier clay or sandy soils. Seedlings typically range from 2 to 5 feet in height at planting, and we recommend spacing trees 40 to 60 feet apart to accommodate their mature size. While pecans are monoecious, planting more than one tree improves pollination and nut production. These trees are not deer browse resistant, so protection may be needed in high-deer areas.

In addition to producing delicious, buttery nuts, Northern Pecans are excellent for attracting wildlife. Deer, turkeys, squirrels, and other game are naturally drawn to the nuts, making these trees ideal additions to food plots or wildlife-friendly landscapes. Planting Northern Pecans in a food plot can help improve local game populations while also providing you with a productive nut harvest.

Ripens/Harvest: September through November
Yield: 35–75 pounds per mature tree, depending on variety and growing conditions

Northern Pecan Nutrition & Health Benefits

Vitamins and Minerals: Pecans are rich in Vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, supporting heart health, energy metabolism, and overall wellness.

Healthy Fats: High in monounsaturated fats that help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Antioxidants: Contains polyphenols that help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

Culinary Uses: Perfect for pies, roasted snacks, trail mixes, and home baking.

Planting Northern Pecans is more than growing a tree — it’s investing in decades of nutty enjoyment, wildlife habitat, and a beautiful, long-lived landscape feature.

Northern Pecan

FAQ

Q: Will my Northern Pecan tree fruit even though I’m in the chilly north?

A: Yes — Northern Pecans are one of the few pecan types bred for cooler climates (USDA Zones 4–9), so they’re more likely to set and mature nuts where traditional pecans would not.

Q: How long before I see my first pecans?

A: Be patient — you’ll often get your first modest nut crop in 5 to 8 years, with better yields once the tree matures.

Q: Do I need more than one Northern Pecan tree for pollination?

A: Pecans are generally wind-pollinated and tolerate some cross-pollination from nearby pecans, so a single tree might make nuts. Planting two or more Pecan trees increases yields and reliability.

Q: What soil and sun do Northern Pecans prefer?

A: They love deep, well-draining soil and full sun — give them plenty of elbow room and food for their roots. Avoid soggy clay soils.

Q: How far apart should I plant Northern Pecan trees?

A: We suggest spacing 30 to 50 feet apart (or more, depending on your goals)—they grow big, and their root systems like personal space.

Q: When is the harvest window for Northern Pecan trees?

A: Expect nuts to be ready for picking from late September through October, depending on your location and seasonal weather quirks.

Q: How do I crack or process Northern Pecan nuts?

A: Northern Pecans have relatively thin shells compared to other nut trees, so a simple nutcracker or mechanical sheller should suffice — no industrial rockcrusher required.

Q: What’s the Northern Pecan nut yield I can realistically expect?

A: Once mature and well cared for, a healthy pecan tree can produce 50 to 150+ pounds of nuts annually—though your mileage may vary (weather, soil, care, squirrel negotiations, etc.).

Bare Root Shipping & Return Policy

We Ship Healthy Dormant Trees

At BearFruit Nursery, we make sure your bare root trees, shrubs, and plants arrive happy, healthy, and ready to grow. Orders ship in fall or early spring while plants are dormant to reduce transplant shock.

Here’s what to expect:
Your shipment may look like a “stick in the mud” — that’s normal!
You’ll receive a healthy, leafless plant with a moist, sawdust-wrapped root system.
The sawdust keeps roots from drying out and supports long-term growth.
Our plants are grown in soil, not pots, developing strong root systems that quickly outgrow container-raised plants.

If your order arrives damaged, incomplete, or not as expected:
Contact us within 14 days of delivery.
We’ll send a one-time free replacement if available, or issue a full refund if it’s out of stock.
Our goal is simple — to send you strong, healthy plants that thrive once in the ground.
"Everything was fine with our order."
- Jerri S. Maine
"All four trees in our order look good and planted."
- Patti K. Illinois

Customer Reviews

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At BearFruit Nursery we are driven by our passion to steward our land in a manner that allows us to care for people and generate abundant harvests. We never use pesticides or herbicides on our plants. Our inputs include locally sourced wood chip mulch and grass mulch, leaf mulch, and compost that we collect on our site. We grow our plants outside in the ground or in raised beds.
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