$59.95Original price was: $59.95.$47.96Current price is: $47.96.
Kanza Pecan (Carya illinoinensis ‘Kanza’) is a cold-hardy northern pecan from a USDA Major × Shoshoni cross, released in 1996, bearing rich buttery golden kernels with scab immunity and clean-cracking shells on a stately 75–100 foot shade tree. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 and AHS heat zones 5-8, and needs 300-900 chill hours, and requires cross-pollination with a compatible variety such as Caddo Pecan or Desirable Pecan for reliable nut set.
3-4′ Bare Root Grafted Tree Rootstock: Pecan Seedling
Pecan Seedling (Standard): Grafted onto a pecan seedling, so the tree reaches its full natural size on a deep taproot. No dwarfing effect.
• Support: Freestanding; the deep taproot gives excellent anchorage.
Kanza traces to a controlled cross of Major x Shoshoni made at the USDA pecan breeding program in Brownwood, Texas in 1955 by pecan breeder Louis Romberg; the resulting seedling was designated USDA 55-11-11. After years of evaluation in northern trial plantings, it was formally released in 1996 jointly by USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. The variety is named for the Kanza (Kaw) people, indigenous to the central plains — continuing the USDA pecan program’s longstanding convention of naming selections after Native American nations. Major’s contribution gave Kanza strong cold hardiness and disease tolerance; Shoshoni’s contribution shaped compact nut size and earlier ripening. The pairing proved well-suited to northern growers, where a short effective season makes early kernel fill essential. University of Georgia and Kansas State University pecan trials consistently place Kanza among the lower-input cultivars for its scab resistance profile, earning it a position on extension recommended lists across the South-Central and Southeastern United States.
Kanza thrives in Zones 5 through 9 and tolerates the cold winters of the northern pecan belt better than most named cultivars. Trees reach 70 to 100 feet tall with a 40- to 75-foot spread at full maturity, so plan for generous spacing — at least 40 to 60 feet between trees. Preferred soil pH is 5.5 to 7.0; well-drained loam or sandy loam with good depth gives the best root development. Kanza bears its first crop in roughly 5 to 7 years from planting and shifts into a moderate alternate-bearing cycle as the tree matures, with heavy crops on even years in many regions. Annual foliar zinc applications are critical because pecan is uniquely sensitive to zinc deficiency, which shows as small, distorted leaflets (rosette). Apply chelated zinc or zinc sulfate in early spring with your regular fertility program. Consistent irrigation during shell hardening in late summer directly affects kernel fill and reduces blank nuts in the harvest.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9 AHS Heat Zone: 5-8 Chill Hours: 300-900 Sun Requirements: Full Sun Soil pH: 5.5-7.0 Soil Type: Deep, fertile sandy loam to clay loam; native to bottomland alluvial soils Soil Drainage: Well-drained to moderately well-drained Water Requirements: Medium Drought Tolerance: Moderate Plant Spacing: 40-60 ft apart Container Suitability: No
Kanza grows at a moderate rate, building a broad, upright-spreading canopy that provides substantial shade by its second decade. Foliage is the large, pinnately compound leaves typical of pecan — 12 to 20 leaflets per leaf — turning clear yellow before dropping in autumn. The tree is deciduous and fully winter-dormant. Bark is light gray and develops deep, interlaced furrows on mature trunks. Growth habit is generally upright in youth, becoming more wide-spreading as scaffold branches lengthen. Salt tolerance is low, so avoid planting in sites with saline irrigation water or near road salt runoff. Wind tolerance is also limited; a sheltered site or windbreak on the prevailing-wind side reduces limb breakage during nut-fill storms. Kanza's deep taproot system makes it drought-tolerant once established, though yield and kernel quality improve markedly with supplemental irrigation during dry summers. The tree supports a wide range of wildlife, attracting squirrels, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, woodpeckers, and numerous songbirds to its nuts.
Mature Height: 75-100 ft tall Mature Spread: 40-75 ft wide Growth Habit: Upright, symmetrical oval crown Growth Rate: Moderate Foliage Type: Deciduous Food Forest Layer: Canopy Permaculture Role: Canopy/overstory tree; nut crop; wildlife habitat; mast provider; shade Leaf Color: Medium green Fall Foliage Color: Yellow to gold Attracts Wildlife: Squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, crows, woodpeckers, songbirds, opossums, raccoons Life Span: 200+ years
Kanza is a Type II (protogynous) pecan, meaning it has receptive female flowers before its own catkins shed pollen. In the current pecan pollination chart, its pollen-shed window is Apr 30 - May 6 and its receptive window is Apr 19 - Apr 26. Reliable crops need a compatible cross-pollinizer whose pollen shed overlaps that receptive window. Best matches from the current article matrix: Pawnee (Type I), Oconee (Type I), Caddo (Type I). Pecans are wind-pollinated; plant compatible varieties in the same yard, food forest, or orchard block with open airflow rather than relying on an unknown tree several properties away.
Bloom Season: Mid Bloom Window: Pollen shed: Apr 30 - May 6; receptive: Apr 19 - Apr 26 Pollination Requirements: Cross-pollination required; Type II (protogynous): becomes receptive first, then sheds pollen later; needs a compatible cross-pollinizer whose pollen shed overlaps its receptive window Pollination Mechanism: Wind-pollinated Flower Color: Yellow-green (catkins)
Kanza produces small, round nuts with a thin shell and a plump golden kernel that averages around 51% of total nut weight — a strong ratio for a cultivar of its size. Flavor is rich and buttery, with the classic sweet pecan character that consumers expect from a fresh-crop nut. Harvest comes early, typically the last week of September to early October in northern regions, beating the first hard frosts in Zone 5 and 6 by a comfortable margin. The small nut size is actually an advantage during alternate-bearing cycles: because individual nuts are compact, kernel quality holds up well even in heavy on-years when a larger-fruited cultivar might thin out. Kanza kernels shell out cleanly and store well. In the kitchen they perform across the full range of pecan applications — pies, pralines, roasting, salads, and straight-from-the-shell snacking. Their consistent golden color and uniform appearance make them attractive for fresh-market sales and gift-pack uses.
Fruit Weight: 6 g (74 nuts per pound) Flavor: Rich, buttery; golden kernels Fruit Color: Tan-brown shell; golden kernel Fruit Texture: Crisp; shells into clean halves Bearing Habit: Alternate bearing confirmed (on-years 2019, 2021; off-years 2020) Years to Bear: 5-7 years Culinary Uses: Eaten raw or roasted; used in pies, cakes, cookies, candies, breads, and ice cream
Kanza's strongest selling point in disease management is its virtual immunity to pecan scab (Venturia effusa), the most destructive fungal disease in eastern and southern pecan production. In university trials across Louisiana, Georgia, and Oklahoma, Kanza has sustained this resistance across decades without the breakdown seen in some older scab-resistant selections, making it well-suited to humid climates where unprotected susceptible varieties require multiple fungicide applications per season. Resistance ratings for the other four tracked diseases — Downy Spot, Vein Spot, Zonate Leaf Spot, and Powdery Mildew — have not been formally assigned for Kanza, reflecting limited published data rather than known susceptibility; standard canopy management practices (adequate spacing, good airflow, removal of fallen leaf litter) address these secondary diseases effectively in most settings.
On the pest side, Kanza faces the standard suite of pecan insects: Pecan Weevil, Pecan Nut Casebearer, Hickory Shuckworm, and Black Pecan Aphid. No variety is immune to these pests. Organic and cultural controls — kaolin clay (Surround WP) applied before weevil emergence, pheromone traps for Casebearer monitoring, canopy thinning to reduce Shuckworm refuge sites, and parasitoid-friendly management to conserve natural aphid predators — form the backbone of a low-input IPM program suited to Kanza's naturally low-spray disease profile.
Foliar zinc every spring: Apply chelated zinc at bud break — pecan rosette stunts shoots and cuts yield before visual symptoms appear.
Choose the right Type I: Plant Pawnee, Desirable, or Caddo within 150 feet; Elliott's bloom window overlaps poorly with Kanza.
Kaolin clay for Pecan Weevil: Start Surround WP at 1% shuck split, reapply after rain — physically deters egg-laying without harming beneficials.
Irrigate through kernel fill: Water stress in mid-August causes blank nuts; deep soaks every 10 to 14 days during shell hardening pay off at harvest.
We ship in late winter or early spring based on your USDA hardiness zone.
We strive to ship orders on the scheduled dates listed in the table below. However, please note that the actual shipping date may be subject to change due to factors like weather conditions and order volume.
The specific date for shipping your order will be determined according to your zipcode at the time of checkout.
Our plants are shipped bare root, packed in moist sawdust, and securely wrapped in plastic to prevent the roots from drying out. We use USPS Ground Advantage for shipping, ensuring that your plants typically arrive within 2-5 days after packaging.
In case you're unable to plant the trees immediately upon arrival, we recommend soaking them in water for a few hours and temporarily heeling them in. Ideally, they should be planted within three days of receipt for optimal health.
Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:
You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.
If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital
2 reviews for Kanza Pecan
Rated 4 out of 5
Paul Young (verified owner)–
Little concerned about one of the tree’s root system. All it had was tap root. The other had a better root system but nothing like the Oconee that I received. I hope that the tap one will take.
Rated 5 out of 5
David S. (verified owner)–
Root system appears well developed and healthy. Already prepped as directed (nice clear instructions provided) and transplanted. Looking forward to watching it come out of dormancy and resume its growth.
Paul Young (verified owner) –
Little concerned about one of the tree’s root system. All it had was tap root. The other had a better root system but nothing like the Oconee that I received. I hope that the tap one will take.
David S. (verified owner) –
Root system appears well developed and healthy. Already prepped as directed (nice clear instructions provided) and transplanted. Looking forward to watching it come out of dormancy and resume its growth.