Lecont Hickan Nuts

currently unavailable  The Bitter Pecan-Fastest Growing of all Pecan and Hickory Hybrids

Lecont hickan is a natural hybrid found in the southern part of the U.S. combining both pecan and water hickory. As you  see the nuts are intermediate between the parent trees.  The nuts are bitter in taste but rich in oil much like bitternut hickories in Michigan.  Despite being a southern tree, I have found many of the seedlings from this population to be fully hardy as well as super vigorous in our zone 5.  I started out planting this tree about 20 years ago and some are now over 25 ft. tall and growing fine in my dry soil as well as the low frost pocket areas. The minus 20F has not damaged them.  This is the fastest growing hickory I have grown.  Many of  the seedlings grow 3 feet in one season and a few topped the 5 ft. mark in one year. For a hickory that might be a world record. I am surprised no one has tried this as far as both for the oil extraction and the trees as a possible ornamental street tree or even other conservation uses. 

“Bitter Pecan” is the other common name of this plant and it was used for cabinetry and flooring. It is one of those unsung heroes of the hickory genus and because of its hybrid nature, it may have an almost species status as some of the seedlings take on characteristics of their own which hold true from generation to generation.  Despite its taproot, it does transplant well and responds to a variety of soils and climates. 

Lecont hickan seeds are hard to come by and each batch I get can be different. Some are large with thick shells, others are small with rough shells showing more of the nature of water hickory.  Note: the seeds used for this cross are from Georgia and Louisiana. It is possible my farms trees will fruit soon. And those will be listed here once harvested.