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Sumner Pecan (Carya illinoinensis ‘Sumner’) is a Southeast-adapted chance-seedling pecan selected in Tift County, Georgia, in the 1930s for its large nut size, high shell-out percentage, and rich, buttery flavor well-suited to baking, pralines, and snacking. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 and AHS heat zones 6-10, and needs 300-800 chill hours, and requires cross-pollination with a compatible variety such as Cape Fear 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.
Sumner pecan originated as a single chance seedling selected by Walter L. Sumner on his nursery property at Waterloo in Tift County, Georgia, around the 1930s. Sumner identified the tree for its large nut size, high shell-out percentage, clean halves, and earlier bearing than neighboring seedlings, then propagated and distributed it widely across south Georgia — particularly around Albany. DNA and morphological analysis at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, where Sumner has been included in experimental orchards since 1940, suggests that ‘Schley’ may be a parent; the open-pollinated nature of the original seedling means full parentage cannot be confirmed. Ray Worley of UGA Extension first recommended Sumner for Georgia commercial orchards based on Coastal Plain trial performance. The cultivar’s historically strong scab resistance made it especially valuable in the humid South, though more recent orchard reports from some locations have noted emerging susceptibility — a development that Georgia and Florida Extension publications note would significantly reduce its appeal if widespread. Sumner entered commerce through Sumner’s own nursery sales and gained regional recognition for late-season maturity and large, well-filled nuts.
Sumner thrives in the deep, well-drained, loamy soils typical of river bottom and upland sites across the Southeast. Soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0 suits this variety well; outside that range, nutrient uptake — especially zinc — declines sharply. Full sun is non-negotiable for a productive canopy: aim for a site with at least eight hours of direct light daily. Trees reach 70–100 ft tall with a 40–75 ft spread at maturity, so spacing of 40–60 ft between trees is standard in orchard plantings. Irrigation during dry summers materially improves nut fill, particularly in years with below-average rainfall during August and September. Foliar zinc applications — three sprays starting about two weeks after budbreak at two-week intervals — are the single most critical fertility practice; zinc deficiency is the leading cause of reduced yields in Southeast orchards and must be addressed proactively each season.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9 AHS Heat Zone: 6-10 Chill Hours: 300-800 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: 60-80 ft apart Container Suitability: No
Sumner grows into a large, broadly spreading shade tree with a moderately vigorous growth rate and a mature crown that can span 40–75 ft wide. The canopy is deciduous, dropping leaves in late autumn after nut harvest. Trees are rated low for both wind and salt tolerance, making sheltered, well-drained inland sites preferable to coastal exposures. Care level is high: pecans are long-lived, high-investment trees that reward attentive management of nutrition, water, and pest pressure. Sumner's canopy provides substantial shade and mast, supporting white-tailed deer, wild turkey, woodpeckers, squirrels, and songbirds. It serves well as a food-forest canopy layer, windbreak, or specimen shade tree on larger properties. First commercial-quality harvests typically arrive six to eight years after planting, with full production potential realized at fifteen years or more.
Mature Height: 70-100 ft tall Mature Spread: 40-75 ft wide Growth Habit: Upright with a broad, spreading canopy Growth Rate: Moderate Foliage Type: Deciduous Food Forest Layer: Canopy Permaculture Role: Canopy/overstory tree; nut crop; wildlife habitat; mast provider; shade Fall Foliage Color: Yellow/Gold Thorns?: No Attracts Wildlife: Squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, crows, woodpeckers, songbirds, opossums, raccoons Life Span: productive 100-300 years
Sumner 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 May 1 - May 7 and its receptive window is Apr 22 - Apr 29. Reliable crops need a compatible cross-pollinizer whose pollen shed overlaps that receptive window. Best matches from the current article matrix: Desirable (Type I), Cape Fear (Type I), Jackson (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: May 1 - May 7; receptive: Apr 22 - Apr 29 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 (insignificant catkins)
Sumner produces large nuts averaging roughly 8–9 g (approximately 48–55 nuts per pound) with a kernel percentage near 52–54%. The shell is notably thin, making hand-cracking easy and mechanical harvesting efficient. Kernels can trend slightly darker than some premium cultivars at full maturity, but flavor is mild and clean with the classic rich, buttery pecan character customers expect. Harvest falls in the mid-to-late season — typically October into November across the Southeast — giving growers a later-season cash crop after earlier varieties like Caddo and Pawnee are done. Fresh-shelled kernels are excellent for pies, pralines, salads, and snacking. Nuts store well in-shell for several months in cool, dry conditions; shelled kernels freeze cleanly for up to a year.
Ripening Season: Very Late Harvest Window: Mid Oct - Early Nov Fruit Size: Large (approximately 1.5 inch length) Fruit Weight: 8.2 g (55 nuts per pound, 52% kernel) Flavor: Rich, buttery pecan flavor; good eating quality Fruit Color: Brown (shell); golden-tan (kernel) Fruit Skin: Paper-shell; easy to crack Bearing Habit: Moderate to heavy bearer; can alternate bear; slow to come into bearing Years to Bear: 6-8 years Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, baking, pies, pralines, snacking, salads
Among humid Southeast orchards, pecan scab (Venturia effusa) is the most economically damaging disease, and Sumner carries moderate resistance — a meaningful advantage compared to scab-susceptible varieties that require heavy fungicide schedules in wet springs. Resistance to downy spot (Mycosphaerella caryigena), vein spot (Gnomonia nerviseda), zonate leaf spot (Cristulariella moricola), and powdery mildew (Microsphaera penicillata) is not specifically documented for Sumner, so standard cultural practices apply: prune for canopy airflow, rake and remove leaf litter in autumn, and avoid overhead irrigation that keeps foliage wet.
On the pest side, Sumner has a well-documented susceptibility to black pecan aphid (Melanocallis caryaefoliae) — it is historically one of the first varieties to show aphid damage in an orchard block. Monitor leaves closely from midsummer onward and use targeted releases of beneficial insects or approved kaolin clay (Surround WP) as a physical barrier before populations spike. Pecan weevil (Curculio caryae), nut casebearer (Acrobasis nuxvorella), and hickory shuckworm (Cydia caryana) are managed through pheromone trap monitoring, timely kaolin applications, debris removal, and canopy thinning to reduce overwintering habitat.
Foliar zinc every spring: three sprays at two-week intervals from budbreak — the highest-return single input for pecan yield.
Scout aphids from late June: Sumner is a prime black pecan aphid host; catch colonies early and deploy kaolin clay before damage builds.
Plant your Type I pollinator first: Caddo, Oconee, or Pawnee must be canopy-sized before Sumner bears — plan spacing at planting.
Prune for airflow: thinning dense interior growth is your cheapest scab-management step.
Use pheromone traps for timing: weevil and casebearer catches pinpoint the kaolin application window.
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
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