Question
We have a tree that was grown by a Nut Association member which is a hickory base with a grafted
pecan branch.  We get nuts from it called Hickans.  They are delicious and shorter and sweeter than
a regular pecan.  If we plant the nut, what will the plant be?  Hickan, Hickory or Pecan?

Thanks for any answer or help to find the answer.  We certainly appreciate it.
Elmer & Carolyn Veldhuizen

Answer
Hi Elmer,

A hican is a naturally occuring hybrid between a hickory and pecan.  Over the centuries it is thought that Native Americans have hybridized the tree but Europeans began hybridizing when they settled North America.  When superior crosses were developed, grafts were taken from the tree and grafted onto hickory rootstock.  The grafts are called clones and they will mirror the qualities of the original graft, but share no DNA with the rootstock and therefore, show none of the rootstock's characteristics.  The seeds may be superior seeds for nutmeats but when one tries to grow them out for identical saplings, this won't happen. There will be variation due to the instability of hybridization.  So, like with other hybrids, if you use the seed, you will not get the exact same thing.  There will be variation.  Variations include, smaller seed, harder shells, softer shell, hollow shells, inferior tasting nutmeats, better weather tolerance, etc.  On the other hand, the qualities could be completely acceptable although not an improvement or not as good as the original.  Or, in rare cases, a superior plant emerges.  There is no harm in experimenting and planting the seed but the result are often disappointing or at the least not anything to get excited about.

The resulting plant will be a "hican" as the seedling will share qualities in variation from the original parent plants that were hickory and pecan.
I hope this helps.
Tom