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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.