CLASSIFICATION OF PECAN CULTIVARS
Pecan trees preven themselves somwhat from self-pollinating and encourage cross by being: Protandrous or Protogynous.
Protandrous trees release pollen from the staminate (male) flowers (or catkins) before that tree's pistillate (female) flowers (or nutlets) are receptive to pollen.
Protogynous trees produce nutlets that are receptive to pollen before that tree's catkins release pollen.
In order to get good pollenination of pecan cultivars one should have either a lot of native pecan trees around the named varieties or have at least one protandrous and one protogynous type in his or her backyard or small orchard. Below is a partial listing of the varieties of pecans that grow in our area and their dichogamy. Not all the varieties listed below are recommended varieties for Brazoria county, but are listed simply because they are growing in the county. For other varieties reference Pecan Cultivars--Past and Present by Tommy E. Thompson and Fountain Young, published by The Texas Pecan Growers Association Inc. College Station, Texas 1985.
Protandrous types: Protogynous types:
Caddo Apache
Cape Fear* Choctaw
Cheyenne* Elliott*
Desirable* Forkert*
Pawnee Gloria Grande
Podsednik GraTex
San Saba Jackson
Success Kiowa
Osage Mahan
Oconee Mohawk
Shawnee
Shoshoni
Sioux
Stuart
Wichita
*Recommended varites for Brazoria County
More information on growing Pecans
John Panzarella
4/27/2007