STATE TREE. The pecan was made the official state tree of Texas by an act of the Thirty-sixth Legislature in regular session, 1919. Acts of the Fortieth Legislature, 1927, confirmed the choice. Sentiment favoring the pecan as the state tree was fostered by the request of Governor James Stephen Hogg that a pecan tree be planted at his grave. The pecan is one of the most widely distributed trees in Texas. It is native to more than 150 counties and is grown commercially in thirty additional counties. Commercial use in Central and West Texas greatly increased with the development of new varieties and with many new orchards being irrigated. The 1990 crop of sixty-five million pounds was valued at $73,500,000, an average price per pound of $1.13. In 1989 Texas ranked second among the states in pecan production. The pecan is also a fine shade tree.

Claudia Hazlewood