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Home > Pine > Sugar Pine

Sugar Pine

The sugar pine tree, often called the ‘king of the conifers’ is the largest of all pines, growing to a height surpassed only by a few other coniferous trees. It can be found throughout the mountains of the North American Pacific Coast.

Sugar Pine

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Division Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Pinaceae
Genus Pinus
Subgenus Strobus
Scientific Name Pinus lambertiana

Sugar Pine Pictures

Sugar Pines

Quick Information

Other Names Sugar cone pine, big sugar pine, great sugar pine, ocote (Spanish), pino de azucar (Spanish)
Identification Size: 130-195 ft (40-60 m)

Trunk Diameter: 59-98 in (1.5-2.5 m)

Leaves (Needles): Arranged in bundles of five with a sheath shed annually, 2.25-4.25 inches (5.7-10.8 cm) in length

Cones: Longest cones in the world,9.75-19.75 inches (24.8-50 cm) in length, glistening brown-yellow in color

Seeds: Obovoid (wedge-shaped), deep brown, 0.39-0.78 in (1-2 cm), with broad wings 0.78-1.18 in (2-3 cm) in length; edible

Bark: Fire-resistant

Distribution/Range Mountains of California and Oregon in the United States, Baja California in Mexico
Habitat North and east facing slopes at elevations from sea level to 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Hardiness Zones Up to 7
Growth Rate Fast; average yearly growth of 2 ft
Lifespan Typically 400-500 years
Growing Conditions

Winter Conditions: Cool, wet winters; temperatures upwards of -28°F  (-33°C)

Summer Conditions: Warm, dry summers; 5 frost-free months

Rainfall: 25-90 in (63.5-228.6 cm)

Soil: Coarse or medium textured, well-drained, acidic, moist soil

Light Requirement: Sun to partial shade

Diseases & Pests White pine blister rust, Melampsora rust, Lophodermellaarcuata, Phytophthoramegasperma, mountain pine beetle and sugar cone pine beetle
Breeding System Monoecious
Propagation Cuttings, seedlings, bare root and containers
Seedling Development Prone to show signs of dormancy; easily fixed by cold stratification for 60-90 days
Wildlife Value Nesting sites for birds, squirrels, and other small mammals
What is it used for Wood is much sought after in lumber production; Native Americans use the sap to repair canoes; growing bonsai
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

Sugar Pine Tree

Sugar Pine Bark

Interesting Facts

  • The tallest sugar pine tree (273.79 ft) was discovered in October 2015, at Yosemite National Park, California by the giant tree hunter Michael Taylor.
  • The United States Forest Service is currently involved in a program to develop rust-resistant sugar pine trees.

Pinus Lambertiana

Sugar Pine Needles

Largest Pine Cones

Sugar Pine Cones

References:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_lambertiana
  2. http://www.treesforme.com/sugar_pine.html
  3. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/sugar-pine.htm
  4. https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_lambertiana.php
  5. https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_lambertiana.php

Published on January 17th 2017 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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