'Caddo' is a hybrid pecan tree in the walnut family (Juglandaceae) and is a cross between 'Brooks' and 'Alley' that was developed in Georgia in 1923. The tree grows 70 to 100 feet tall and 40 to 75 feet wide. It is a Type I variety that requires pollination with a Type II pecan tree. 'Caddo' prefers full sun in a sandy loam soil with deep infrequent watering. It is moderately drought-tolerant once established. It is resistant to powdery mildew and has moderate resistance to pecan scab, Phylloxera and black aphids. See the NC State publication "Growing Pecans in North Carolina" to the left. Yellow-green flowers appear in April to May and are wind-pollinated. The pecans are sweet and oval, ripening in September to November. Pecan trees are large so be sure your space is big enough for two large trees in your edible garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for pecan nut casebearer, pecan weevil, twig girdler and fall webworm. Diseases include pecan scab, anthracnose and pecan bacterial leaf scorch. See Clemson's publication on diseases of pecans . Pecans are known for their brittle branches prone to breakage, especially in wind, and late frosts can reduce nut production. More information on Carya illinoinensis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheCarya illinoinensisCarya illinoinensis 'Lipan'Pyrus communis 'Potomac'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 70 ft. 0 in. - 103 ft. 0 in. | Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, medium green, 4-8 inch pinnately compound leaf with 9-17 leaflets; yellow fall color. Leaflets are lanceolate with serrate margins. The midrib of the leaf and leaflets may be curved. Fewer and longer leaflets than black walnut.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Insignificant, monoecious, appear April-May. Male flowers are 4"-long yellow-green catkins, female flowers are shorter spikes.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The 1 to 1.5 inch oval fruits have brown shells and sweet flesh. Matures in October-November
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Grey-brown bark and rectangular furrows.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Grey-brown stems, raised lenticels, and pubescent buds in a U-shaped leaf scar.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Mammals will eat the fruits
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
The fruits are edible
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree
Garden tags
#edible garden #wind pollinated #large tree #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #small mammals #HS111 #HS303 #deciduous tree #NC native #edible fruit #vhfn #shade tree #fall fruits #type 1 pecan #pecans
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Black Pecan Aphid; Growing Pecans in North Carolina