Carya illinoinensis 'Sumner'

'Sumner' pecan is a cultivar of the native pecan, a shade tree in the walnut family (Juglandaceae).' Sumner' was a seedling discovered in Tifton, GA in around 1932 by Walter Sumner. Common characteristics as well as DNA evidence suggest that the  'Schley' cultivar may be a parent of 'Sumner'.

'Sumner' pecan is an attractive tree that grows 80 to 100 feet tall and 40 to 75 feet wide. It does best in full sun in deep loamy well-drained soil. It has high drought tolerance once established. Learn more about selection, planting, and care of pecan trees.

'Sumner' pecan is a recommended cultivar for the southeast United States. It is a heavy bearing tree with good resistance to scab, but susceptible to black aphid. It is a Type II pecan, needing aa type-1 for fruit production. It is compatible with 'Cape Fear', 'Desirable', 'Gafford' and 'Mandan'.  'Sumner' can be somewhat slow to come into bearing, but mature trees have a fairly regular production of relatively large fruits, 54 nuts per pound, of good quality. The average harvest date tends to be late in the season. For optimum pollination, NC State Extension recommends planting at least three cultivars with at least one of each pollination type for best cross-pollination. 

Due to its size, this is a tree most appropriate for a large property. It makes a good shade tree in a naturalized, woodland, or recreational area and as part of a children’s, edible, or pollinator garden.

Quick ID Hints:

• Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound
• Leaflets are falcate, crenate

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  Watch for black aphids, pecan weevils, stink bugs, twig girdlers, and fall webworms.

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Carya illinoinensis.