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Zinner Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is an upright, closely-spaced pecan selection valued for its buttery, sweet kernel and notably consistent annual yields. It’s hardy in USDA Zones 6-9 and AHS Heat Zone 3-9, thriving across a wide range of Eastern climates on just 300-500 chill hours each winter. As a Type II (protogynous) variety, Zinner sheds pollen after its own flowers are receptive, so it needs a Type I partner such as Cape Fear, Desirable, or Jackson nearby for a full nut set. The payoff is a light-colored, 48-nuts-per-pound kernel that holds its buttery flavor well in storage.
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.
Zinner pecan stands out for its upright growth habit, similar to the classic Stuart variety, which lets growers space trees more closely than the sprawling habit of many older pecan cultivars allows. That compact form, paired with a light-colored, buttery kernel and dependable year-to-year yields, has made it a steady performer wherever it’s been trialed.
The variety originated as a seedling selection found in Baldwin County, Alabama. The University of Georgia’s pecan breeding program began trialing it in 2002, and the tree first bore a crop in 2005. Since then Zinner has been evaluated alongside more established cultivars for scab tolerance, kernel quality, and bearing consistency, earning a place among the newer selections nurseries recommend for growers who want reliable, closely spaced plantings without sacrificing nut quality.
Zinner asks for more attention than easy-care pecans, which is why its care level is rated Advanced: it performs best in a sprayed, well-managed orchard block that keeps scab pressure down and holds consistent soil moisture through nut fill. Plant it in deep, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7, and give trees the full 40-50 feet of spacing their eventual 70-100 foot height and 50-foot spread demand; crowding shades the interior canopy and cuts nut fill.
Because salt tolerance is low, avoid sites near roads salted in winter or irrigation water carrying any salinity. Wind tolerance is also low, so a sheltered planting site or a windbreak on the exposed side protects limbs loaded with a heavy nut crop. Zinner's AHS Heat Zone range of 3-9 covers most of the pecan belt, and in a Zone 7 temperate climate it blooms early and ripens late, giving the nuts a long, warm season to fill out before mid-October harvest.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9 AHS Heat Zone: 3-9 Chill Hours: 300-500 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: 40-50 ft apart
Zinner grows upright, much like Stuart, rather than throwing the wide-spreading limbs common to older pecan cultivars. That habit lets you plant trees on the tighter end of the 40-50 foot spacing range without the canopy crowding you'd get from a broader-spreading type, useful where orchard space is limited.
Mature trees reach 70-100 feet tall with a 50-foot spread, developing into a genuine shade tree as much as a nut producer. As a deciduous native of central and eastern North America, Zinner supports a wide range of wildlife: squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, woodpeckers, songbirds, crows, raccoons, and opossums all use the tree for food or cover, though deer will browse young growth, so protect saplings until they're established. In a food forest design, Zinner works as canopy, shade, and windbreak all at once, and it fits shade-tree, nut-production, and naturalized woodland plantings equally well.
Mature Height: 70-100 ft tall Mature Spread: 50 ft wide Growth Habit: Upright, similar to Stuart Growth Rate: Moderate Foliage Type: Deciduous Food Forest Layer: Canopy Permaculture Role: Canopy/overstory tree; nut crop; wildlife habitat; mast provider; shade Thorns?: No Attracts Wildlife: Squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, crows, woodpeckers, songbirds, opossums, raccoons
Zinner is a Type II, or protogynous, pecan: its flowers become receptive to pollen before the tree sheds its own, so it can never reliably pollinate itself. Cross-pollination with a Type I variety is required for a full nut set. Plant it alongside Cape Fear, Desirable, or Jackson, all Type I pollinators whose pollen shed overlaps Zinner's receptive window. In a Zone 7 temperate climate, expect Zinner's flowers to be receptive from about April 23 to April 28, with the tree shedding its own pollen later, April 30 to May 5. Match your pollinator's pollen shed to that receptive window and plant it within pollinating distance for a full nut set every spring.
Bloom Season: Early Bloom Window: Pollen shed: Apr 30 - May 5; receptive: Apr 23 - Apr 28 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 Ploidy: Diploid (2n)
Zinner nuts run about 48 to the pound, with a kernel percentage around 56%, generous for a pecan its size. The kernel itself is notably light in color and holds that pale shade well in storage, a trait buyers and shellers value since darker kernels are often marked down. The thin shell halves cleanly, making it easy to crack out whole halves rather than fragmenting the kernel.
Flavor is buttery and sweet, with a smooth, buttery texture that holds up well whether eaten fresh, baked, or candied. Trees typically begin bearing in 5-8 years and, once established, produce an average of about 33 lbs per tree per year over a 15-year record, notably consistent from one season to the next. Clusters average 2.5 nuts, and the variety shows little of the alternate bearing swings, heavy one year and light the next, that frustrate growers of many older cultivars.
Ripening Season: Late Harvest Window: Mid Oct Fruit Weight: 48 nuts/lb Flavor: Buttery, sweet flavor Fruit Color: kernel has a very light color Fruit Texture: Buttery texture Years to Bear: 5-8 years Yield: 33 lbs/tree/year (15-yr average)
Zinner carries a moderately resistant rating against pecan scab (Venturia effusa), the disease that most limits pecan production in humid regions. That rating comes from University of Georgia trials in a sprayed orchard block; in an unsprayed planting nearby, scab pressure ran severe. Treat Zinner as scab-tolerant, not scab-proof: plan on a fungicide program in wet regions, and don't skip sanitation and airflow-improving pruning that help foliage dry quickly after rain.
The tree is also a preferred host for black pecan aphid (Melanocallis caryaefoliae), meaning it's more susceptible to this pest than many other cultivars. Aphid feeding causes premature leaf drop that can weaken the tree and cut next year's crop, so scout leaf undersides through summer and encourage the lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps that keep populations in check. Where pressure builds, an OMRI-listed insecticidal soap or horticultural oil applied to the leaf undersides breaks the cycle without harming beneficials. Also watch for pecan weevil, pecan nut casebearer, and hickory shuckworm, along with downy spot, vein spot, zonate leaf spot, and powdery mildew, common foliar and nut issues in pecan country.
Watch for black pecan aphid: Zinner is a preferred host, so check leaf undersides through summer and treat early with an OMRI-listed soap or oil.
Budget for a spray program: its moderately resistant scab rating held in a sprayed block but ran severe without one.
Expect stubborn shucks: some Zinner shucks won't split open even on fully filled nuts, so be ready to hand-open at harvest.
Space for the upright habit: its Stuart-like form tolerates the tighter end of 40-50 foot spacing.
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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