Generally — Most Areas
pecan (zones 5-9) partially overlaps with Texas (6b-10a). It can grow in zones 6-9 within the state.
Zone Comparison
Pecan Needs
- USDA Zones: 5-9
- Soil pH: 5 - 7.5
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 140+
Texas Has
- USDA Zones: 6b-10a
- Last Frost: Feb 1 - Apr 15
- First Frost: Oct 15 - Dec 15
- Annual Rainfall: 8-56 inches
- Common Soils: Black clay (Blackland Prairie), Sandy loam, Caliche
Plant Zone Range (zones 5-9)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Pecan wants 140+ frost-free days; a typical Texas site sees ~320 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Pecan needs ~3500 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~5000 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Texas's typical season clears that easily.
Chill hours
Pecan requires ~400 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Texas typically banks ~600 chill hours per winter (MSU Extension method), which keeps this plant on track.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Pecan likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-7.5). That's the common-ground band across Texas's black clay (blackland prairie) and sandy loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Texas site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Texas soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Pecan in Texas — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Generally — Most Areas
- Plant Zones: 5-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 6b-10a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Feb 1 - Apr 15 to Oct 15 - Dec 15 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 1825 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Texas growers also need to think about:
Extreme heat (100F+ days) stresses many crops from June through September
Rainfall varies dramatically — 8 inches in west TX to 56 inches in east TX
Heavy black clay (Blackland Prairie) is difficult to work and drains poorly
Flash drought conditions can develop rapidly even in wet years
Where in Texas Fits Best
Texas spans USDA zones 6b-10a — wide enough that one county's microclimate is very different from another's. Three counties carry the closest zone match for pecan:
Texas Cooperative Extension
For Texas-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for pecan, the canonical source is Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Check your specific parcel in Texas
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores pecan against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
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