On this page, you will find a summary of pecan cultivar information that has been collected at the Pecan Experiment Field near Chetopa, KS. The photos for each cultivar were taken from the 2017 pecan crop. However, I had to keep a few 2013 photos because a few cultivars did not produce a crop in 2017 (Canton, Hirschi, Warren 346).
In each photo, I arranged two inshell pecans and two kernel halves. The pecan on the left is sitting shell suture up while the nut to the right the sitting with the suture sideways. Pecan shell geometry ultimately defines the appearance of the kernel inside and the ease of extracting full kernel halves free of packing material. Dorsal and ventral views of the kernel show the potential for narrow groves to trap packing material during the shelling process.
The cultivar portraits are arranged in alphabetical order. Cultivar data is presented below each photo including; cultivar origin, nut stats, and additional tree attributes. When looking at the photos, be aware that each photo was taken using the same scale so that the nut size and shape of one cultivar can be directly compared to all other cultivars in the portrait gallery.
It is important to note that the trees that produced this data set are growing in an Osage silty clay soil. Nuts produced in this soil type tend to be smaller than pecans produced by trees growing in lighter, silty-loam soils.
Caddo
Origin: USDA cultivar originating from a cross of 'Brooks' and 'Alley'. Released in 1968.
Nut data 2004-2014
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.40 3.97 6.82
Percent Kernel 52.56 42.54 56.53
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Matures 23 days after Pawnee
Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Susceptible to ice storm breakage
Canton
Origin: Native pecan found near Canton, MO
Nut data 2004-2017
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.64 4.64 7.06
Percent Kernel 48.48 45.39 51.80
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Matures 7 days before Pawnee
Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
good tree structure; resistant to wind and ice breakage
Chetopa
Origin: Native pecan tree found at the Pecan Experiment Field near Chetopa, KS.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.03 4.93 7.15
Percent Kernel 54.14 49.52 57.51
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Tends to develop narrow branch attachments; susceptible to wind and ice breakage
City Park
Origin: Giles seedling originating from the Pecan Experiment Field and planted in the riverside park at Chetopa, KS
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 7.10 5.00 8.33
Percent Kernel 49.99 47.54 52.40
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Protogynous flowering habit
Tends to develop poor branch structure making the tree susceptible to wind and ice breakage
Colby
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Carlyle, IL in the Kaskaskia River flood plain in 1957.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.27 4.38 7.57
Percent Kernel 44.94 42.07 48.29
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Tends to develop strong structured tree
Dooley
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Okmulgee, OK.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 4.85 3.83 5.47
Percent Kernel 46.13 35.63 50.96
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Protandrous flowering habit
Very scab susceptible
Shells well, beautiful kernel.
Faith
Origin: Mohawk seedling planted by Verna Davis, Arkansas City KS.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 7.29 5.70 8.72
Percent Kernel 57.45 53.39 61.78
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Nut looks very similar to Pawnee but has smaller average nut size
Gardner
Origin: Seedling tree of unknown origin planted as a street tree in Gardner, KS.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 7.36 5.14 8.63
Percent Kernel 56.87 42.87 61.59
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Protandrous
Scab susceptible
Similar to Pawnee in appearance but nut is rounder in cross section.
Giles
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Chetopa, KS in the Neosho River flood plain. Named in 1930.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.39 4.22 6.29
Percent Kernel 52.17 47.96 54.59
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Tends towards strong alternate bearing
Asymmetrical nut; One kernel half shorter than the other
Goosepond
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Brunswick, MO.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.94 5.21 6.49
Percent Kernel 46.85 39.88 53.61
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Greenriver
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Henderson, KY. Named in 1911.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.97 4.02 6.77
Percent Kernel 50.59 46.66 53.17
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Tends to develop strong structured tree.
Grotjan
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Brunswick, MO.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.28 4.19 6.08
Percent Kernel 51.61 47.98 54.69
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Hark
Origin: Seedling tree that grew in Alexis, IL. Original tree destroyed in a storm in 2017. Seed nut for this tree was collected from an orchard of near Moberly, MO. May have Major parentage.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.52 5.98 6.77
Percent Kernel 54.75 53.29 56.15
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Very attractive kernel
Henning
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Brunswick, MO.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 4.95 3.68 5.62
Percent Kernel 51.31 47.81 55.525
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Hirschi
Photo from 2013
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Rich Hill, MO. Named in 1940.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 4.77 2.27 6.18
Percent Kernel 49.05 26.65 54.79
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Protandrous flowering habit
Very scab susceptible
Extreme variation in nut size and percent kernel due to weather pattern influences on pecan scab infection pressure. If scab can be controlled, Hirschi produces a easy shelling nut with good kernel quality
James
Origin: Native pecan tree found near Brunswick, MO. Named by George James.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.22 3.57 5.97
Percent Kernel 52.80 48.00 55.99
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Jayhawk
Origin: Seedling of the Giles cultivar originated by Lewis Harris of Wichita, KS. Named in 1989.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.62 4.65 7.52
Percent Kernel 51.25 46.63 54.92
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Tends towards over production which leads to poor kernel fill
Some years, kernels had appeared blotchy in color.
Kanza
Origin: Resulted from a controlled cross of Shoshoni and Major made by the USDA. Advanced testing conducted in KS. Released by the USDA and Kansas State in 1996.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.40 5.58 7.36
Percent Kernel 52.32 49.60 54.71
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Excellent sheller with outstanding kernel quality.
Lakota
Origin: Resulted from a controlled cross of Mahan and Major made by the USDA. Advanced testing conducted in KS. Released by the USDA and Kansas State in 2007.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 7.47 5.04 8.81
Percent Kernel 56.35 44.42 60.58
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Will develop alternate bearing as trees mature.
Mid-summer fruit thinning during "on" years is required to preserve nut quality
Lucas
Origin: Native tree found growing outside of Goshen, OH. .
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 4.13 2.49 4.99
Percent Kernel 52.47 50.33 56.22
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Protogynous flowering habit
Nut shells well, but is too small to justify propagation.
Major
Origin: Native tree found growing in the Green River flood plain outside of Henderson, KY. Named in 1908.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.87 4.97 6.36
Percent Kernel 50.66 46.29 53.08
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Protandrous flowering habit
Slow to come into bearing but very consistent nut production with tree maturity
Scab resistant
Strong branches, good tree structure
Distinctive checkered bark
Grows to be a large tree
Mandan
Origin: Resulted
from a controlled cross of BW-1 and Osage made by the USDA. Released by the USDA in 2009.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 8.07 7.32 8.98
Percent Kernel 59.26 56.05 61.51
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Protandrous flowering habit
Has shown some susceptibility to scab
Kernel appearance is not good. Kernels darken quickly. Nuts often appear wrinkled and veiny.
Back side of kernel halves appears sunken and hollow
Narrow dorsal groves.
Maramec
Origin: Seedling of Mahan found in Pawnee County, OK. Named in 1969.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 7.75 4.57 8.95
Percent Kernel 55.43 48.93 57.60
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Protogynous flowering habit
Very scab susceptible. Nut size and kernel fill greatly reduced by scab infection.
Attractive well structured tree
Becomes severely alternate bearing with tree maturity. Over producing trees very susceptible to winter cold damage (shoot dieback).
Mullahy
Origin: Seedling pecan tree found along the Mississippi River flood plain near Burlington, IA.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.37 4.47 6.17
Percent Kernel 42.41 40.38 43.77
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Niblack
Origin: Native pecan tree found in the Wabash River floodplain near Vincennes, IN. Named in 1913.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.51 4.27 6.42
Percent Kernel 44.95 42.04 48.05
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Shy nut production
Norton
Origin: Native pecan tree found in the Mississippi River floodplain near Clarksville, MO. Named in 1912.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.49 5.62 7.77
Percent Kernel 44.36 39.21 47.48
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Very thick shell, poor shelling characteristics.
Reliable but never heavy nut production
Osage
Origin: Resulted from a controlled cross of Major and Evers made by the USDA in 1948. Named and released in 1989.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 5.75 4.84 6.28
Percent Kernel 53.23 50.38 55.44
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Severe alternate bearing at tree maturity, requires summer nut thinning to maintain nut quality
Tree forms upright branches with narrow crotches
Oswego
Origin: Open pollinated seedling of Greenriver planted at the Pecan Experiment Field near Chetopa, KS. Named in 2011.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.40 4.14 7.15
Percent Kernel 51.33 48.50 54.08
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Protogynous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Attractive kernel, shells well
Pawnee
Origin: Result of a controlled cross of Mohawk and Starking Hardy Giant made by the USDA in 1963. Named and released in 1984.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 8.31 6.38 9.41
Percent Kernel 58.77 51.85 60.47
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Trends toward alternate bearing with tree maturity. Requires summer nut thinning to maintain kernel quality.
Weak wood under the stress of an ice storm
Peruque
Origin: Native pecan tree found in the Mississippi River floodplain near St. Charles, MO. Named in 1953.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 4.86 3.67 6.00
Percent Kernel 60.73 55.46 64.19
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Protandrous flowering habit
Very scab susceptible
Consistent producer
Small, thin-shelled nuts prone to bird predation.
Posey
Origin: Native pecan tree found by W.C. Reed in the Wabash River floodplain in Gibson Co., IN. Named in 1911.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 7.20 5.88 8.51
Percent Kernel 55.12 51.21 58.13
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Protogynous flowering habit
Fair resistance to pecan scab
Consistent but shy nut producer
Kernel turn dark quickly
Unique buttery flavored kernels
Shepherd
Origin: Native pecan tree found on the farm of Vernon Munson in Chariton County, Mo. Tree was purchased by Jerrell Shepherd in 1978. Scions from the original tree were grafted onto trees growing on Shepherd Farms near Clifton Hills, MO.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.01 4.45 6.82
Percent Kernel 51.07 48.23 53.43
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Consistent producer
Nut shells well
Surecrop
Origin: Seedling tree found in 1959 by W. T. Osterman of Nebo, IL. Named and patented by Stark Bros. Nursery in 1972.
Nut data 2012-2017
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.29 4.38 7.37
Percent Kernel 53.02 50.28 58.49
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Matures 4 days after Pawnee
Protogynous flowering habit
Moderate scab resistance
Waccamaw
Origin: Seedling of improved cultivar found in Golden City, MO
Nut data 2013-2016
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 8.08 7.39 8.96
Percent Kernel 56.91 54.46 60.48
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Protandrous flowering habit
Young tree shows no sign of scab
Warren 346
Origin: Native pecan tree found by Dale Warren in his native grove located in the Grand River floodplain south of Wheeling, MO.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 4.65 4.12 5.71
Percent Kernel 50.81 46.68 54.99
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Earliest ripening pecan in our collection
Small nut, cracks well
Tree has upright growth habit and prone to forming narrow branch angles
Witte
Origin: Native pecan tree found in the Mississippi River floodplain near Burlington, IA. Named in 1925.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.28 5.42 6.84
Percent Kernel 50.65 46.73 54.25
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab susceptible
Kernel often dark and crinkled. Ugly nut.
Yates 68
Origin: Most likely an open-pollinated Posey seedling planted by Ed Yates on his farm near Chrisney, IN.
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Average Minimum Maximum
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Nut weight (g) 6.18 4.47 7.25
Percent Kernel 54.39 48.88 60.89
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Protandrous flowering habit
Scab resistant
Kernel color darkens quickly similar to Posey
