'Lakota' Carya illinoinensis 'Lakota'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAIR-ee-ah il-li-noy-NEN-sis
- Description
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The Lakota pecan is a hybrid tree in the walnut family (Juglandaceae) that was introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Service in 2007. It is a cross between the 'Mahan' x 'Major' cultivars and selected for release due to its potential high yield, nut quality and tree strength. The Lakota was named in the tradition of naming pecans cultivars after Native American Indian tribes.
Lakota is a type-II pecan and will require planting with a type-I tree for pollination. As an early harvest cultivar it matches well with early type-I cultivars such as 'Byrd', 'Mandan', 'Pawnee', and 'Desirable'. Fruit yields are high early in younger trees, but research suggests cluster size will need to be crop thinned to maintain high fruit yields over time. The Lakota is a vigorous grower, with an upright structure that is wind and scab resistant. It thrives in well-drained soil in full sun. A moderate to fast grower, it will grow 70 to 100 feet tall with a canopy width between 40-75 feet wide.
Fruit kernels are light golden with an excellent flavor. Harvest time is between late-September and mid-October.
This tree requires open spaces due to its large size and requirement of multiple cultivars for good nut production.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound
- Leaflets are falcate, crenate
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Lakota pecans are highly resistant to pecan scab the most perilous pecan disease. Other potential pests and problems include aphids, walnut caterpillars, pecan weevils, stinkbugs and caterpillars. Other diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot, leaf scorch, and downy spot. See Clemson's publication on diseases of pecans.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carya
- Species:
- illinoinensis
- Family:
- Juglandaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & E. Central U.S.A to Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits feed small mammals and some birds. Larval host plant to the Luna moth. This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Edible fruit
- Screening
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Pecan scab
- Edibility:
- Nuts are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 70 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Produces medium-sized, thin-shelled, teardrop-shaped nuts with a light golden kernel, high oil content and a rich, buttery flavor. Matures late September
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant, monoecious, appear April-May. Male flowers are 4"-long yellow-green catkins, female flowers are shorter spikes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, medium green, 4-8" pinnately compound leaf with 9-17 leaflets; yellow fall color. Leaflets are lanceolate with serrate margins. Midrib of leaf and leaflets may be curved. Fewer and longer leaflets than black walnut.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Rectangle
- Bark Description:
- Grey-brown bark and rectangular furrows.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Encircles a bud
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Grey-brown stems, raised lenticels, and pubescent buds in a U-shaped leaf scar.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Messy
