Peruque Pecan Tree

Peruque Pecan has a uniquely local origin story — discovered growing in the Mississippi River floodplain near St. Charles, Missouri, and introduced in 1953 after proving its exceptional productivity and early bearing habit in the very climate where Stark Bro’s customers grow. Precocious and productive, Peruque begins bearing earlier than most pecan varieties and delivers reliable annual crops of medium-sized, thin-shelled pecans averaging 80 nuts per pound. Mid-September ripening makes it one of the earliest-harvesting pecans available — an advantage for growers in the northern end of its zone range where season length matters. Grafted. Type I pollinator.

Precocious Bearer — Earlier Crops Than Most Pecans

Peruque’s precocious bearing habit is its most practically valuable quality. Where most pecan varieties take many years to begin producing meaningfully, Peruque gets to work sooner — delivering productive crops earlier in the tree’s life and rewarding patient growers more quickly. Combined with mid-September ripening that brings the harvest in before the end of the season, Peruque is particularly well-suited to growers in Zones 5–8 who want pecan crops without waiting an extra growing season or two.

Discovered in Missouri — A Local Heritage Variety

Peruque’s Mississippi River floodplain origin near St. Charles, Missouri makes it a genuinely regional variety — proven in the heart of the Midwest’s pecan-growing zone before it was ever introduced commercially. That local heritage translates into real-world adaptability to the climate conditions that Midwest and mid-South growers actually experience, rather than performance data from a distant breeding program.

Thin-Shelled and Easy to Crack

Peruque’s medium-sized nuts have thin shells that crack cleanly and easily, yielding crunchy kernels with good pecan flavor. Thin-shelled varieties are easier to process at home and deliver more nut for less effort, making them a practical choice for growers who want to enjoy their harvest without specialized cracking equipment.

Note: Avoid planting in low-lying areas where late spring frost settles. Not recommended for the colder parts of Zone 5.

Why Growers Choose Peruque

• Precocious bearer — produces crops earlier in the tree’s life than most pecan varieties
• Discovered near St. Charles, Missouri — proven regional performance in Midwest conditions
• Mid-September harvest — among the earliest-ripening pecans for season-length efficiency
• Thin-shelled and easy to crack — more nut with less effort at harvest
• Grafted for consistency — reliable performance and quality season after season
• Productive variety — dependable annual crops once established

Protandrous Type I