Genus
Carya
19 US plant patents have been granted in this genus. 4 are already in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell them. The next of the 15 still protected comes off patent on July 23, 2028.
Still under patent — 15 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- BYRDPP20867Pecan tree named ‘BYRD’UNDER PATENTJuly 23, 2028
- ECLIPSEPP22729Pecan tree named ‘ECLIPSE’UNDER PATENTOctober 21, 2030
- MorrillPP23335Pecan tree named ‘Morrill’UNDER PATENTAugust 25, 2031
- ELLISPP25563Pecan tree named ‘ELLIS’UNDER PATENTDecember 13, 2031
- CunardPP24373Pecan tree named ‘Cunard’UNDER PATENTMay 31, 2032
- TreadwellPP25740Pecan tree named ‘Treadwell’UNDER PATENTNovember 5, 2033
- HuffmanPP25465Pecan tree named ‘Huffman’UNDER PATENTNovember 12, 2033
- TomPP26705Pecan tree named ‘Tom’UNDER PATENTJanuary 6, 2035
- WhiddonPP29316Pecan tree named ‘Whiddon’UNDER PATENTJuly 5, 2036
- TannerPP29422Pecan tree named ‘Tanner’UNDER PATENTJuly 5, 2036
- Ga. 00-7-75PP30227Pecan tree named ‘Ga. 00-7-75’UNDER PATENTApril 5, 2037
- PuebloPP34811Pecan tree named ‘Pueblo’UNDER PATENTOctober 20, 2041
- ZuniPP34879Pecan tree named ‘Zuni’UNDER PATENTFebruary 9, 2042
- SenecaPP34902Pecan tree named ‘Seneca’UNDER PATENTFebruary 9, 2042
- Ga. 03-6-32PP34933Pecan tree named ‘Ga. 03-6-32’UNDER PATENTMarch 4, 2042
Already in the public domain — 4 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- EXCELPP16575Pecan tree ‘EXCEL’ varietyPUBLIC DOMAINMay 3, 2024
- James EarlyPP7419Pecan tree named `James Early` varietyPUBLIC DOMAINNovember 13, 2009
- McLeonPP5911Pecan tree named McLeonPUBLIC DOMAINSeptember 3, 2005
- GraCrossPP4236Pecan tree named GraCrossPUBLIC DOMAINApril 4, 1995
A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name comes with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked, so they are always free to use. What it does not free is any brand name the plant is marketed under. Those are trademarks and renew indefinitely.