Hican

by | Apr 3, 2025 | Plant Propagation

To propagate a hican (a hybrid of pecan and hickory), you can either plant hican nuts in the fall or propagate from cuttings, ensuring the nuts or cuttings receive cold-moist stratification and proper care. 

Here’s a more detailed guide:

1. Propagating from Nuts (Seeds):

  • Collect Nuts: Gather mature, healthy hican nuts from a reliable source. 
  • Cold-Moist Stratification: Hican nuts require cold-moist stratification to germinate. 
  • Fall Planting: Plant the nuts directly in the ground in the fall, allowing them to undergo natural stratification during the winter. 
  • Artificial Stratification: If planting in the spring, you can simulate stratification by Soaking the nuts in water for 24 hours. Placing them in a moist (but not soggy) environment, like a sealed bag with a damp paper towel, in a refrigerator for 2-3 months. 
  • Planting: Choose a location with full sun and well-draining soil. Plant the nuts about 2-3 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart.  Ensure the nuts are spaced 40-50 feet apart to allow ample space for canopy expansion.  Water the area well after planting. 
  • Patience: Hican trees are slow-growing, and it can take several years for them to produce nuts. 

2. Propagating from Cuttings:

  • Collect Cuttings: Take semi-hardwood cuttings (about 6-8 inches long) from a healthy hican tree in late summer or early fall.
  • Prepare Cuttings:
    • Remove the leaves from the bottom half of each cutting.
    • Dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
  • Planting:
    • Plant the cuttings in a well-draining medium, like perlite.
    • Ensure about half the length of the cutting is below the surface.
    • Water the cuttings well and place them in a sheltered area with some shade.
  • Patience: Cuttings can take time to root, so be patient and provide consistent moisture. 

Important Notes:

  • Pollination: Hican trees are often wind-pollinated, but some varieties may require cross-pollination. 
  • Spacing: Plant hican trees 40-50 feet apart to allow ample space for canopy expansion. 
  • Chill Hours: Hican trees require a certain number of chill hours (hours below a certain temperature) for proper nut production. 
  • Rootstocks: For grafted trees, use ultra-northern pecan seedlings as rootstocks for best performance. 
  • Winter Protection: Protect the graft area of grafted trees with a mound of soil around the tree above the graft for the first 2 years.