Starking® Hardy Giant™ Pecan Tree

Protandrous Type I

About the Starking® Hardy Giant™ Pecan Tree (Type I)

The Starking® Hardy Giant™ is a piece of Missouri history, discovered through a decade-long search for the perfect central-district pecan. In 1938, George James began a campaign to identify a tree that could truly thrive in the Midwest. He found this exceptional specimen in 1947, leading to a partnership with Stark Bro’s and a formal U.S. Patent in 1955.

Renowned as a parent of the famous ‘Pawnee’ variety, this tree is a favorite for its large, thin-shelled nuts and rich, buttery kernels that fill out well. Because it was discovered right here in Missouri, it is uniquely adapted to handle the unpredictable weather of cooler pecan-growing regions.

Growing the Starking® Hardy Giant™ Pecan Tree

This variety is an excellent choice for growers in zones 5–9, as it is both heat-tolerant and exceptionally cold-hardy, withstanding temperatures down to -20°F. As a Type I (protandrous) variety, it sheds its pollen early to mid-season.

While it is considered self-pollinating, you will see significantly larger and more consistent harvests by planting it alongside a Type II pollinator. The nuts ripen early, typically in late September, making it one of the first pecans ready for harvest each season. For the best results, plant in deep, well-drained loamy soil with full sun exposure.