Starking® Hardy Giant™ Pecan Tree

Protandrous Type I

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

The Starking® Hardy Giant™ Pecan Tree is a standout choice for growers in cooler pecan regions who want big, flavorful nuts and dependable performance. Discovered in Missouri and introduced by Stark Bro’s in 1955, this Stark Exclusive was selected specifically for its ability to thrive in colder climates while still producing high-quality pecans.

This grafted, Type I (protandrous) pecan produces large, thin-shelled nuts that are easy to crack and excellent for fresh eating, baking, and homemade pies. The kernels are well-filled with rich flavor, and mature trees yield consistently once established. Nuts ripen early, typically in late September, making this one of the earlier pecan harvests of the season.

Starking® Hardy Giant™ is both cold-hardy and heat-tolerant, withstanding winter temperatures down to -20°F. The vigorous tree was part of a long-term effort to identify pecans suited to the central Midwest and later became a parent of the popular Pawnee pecan.

While Starking® Hardy Giant™ is considered self-pollinating, planting it alongside a compatible Type II pecan will improve pollination and lead to larger, more consistent crops (see recommended pollinators below).