Pinus radiata

Common Names

Monterey Pine, Radiata Pine, Insignis Pine, Remarkable Pine

Summary

Monterey pine is an evergreen conifer native to the central California coast and to Guadalupe and Cedros Islands. It grows fast, with a broadly conic to rounded crown and a straight trunk, typically 15–30 m tall and 0.6–0.9 m dbh; needles are glossy dark green, in fascicles of three (two in island varieties) and 8–15 cm long; seed cones are 7–15 cm long and serotinous, opening with heat to release seeds; bark is fissured and dark gray to brown.

In cultivation it tolerates a wide range of sites, preferring well-drained soils and full sun, with maritime exposure tolerance and drought tolerance once established; it is wind-hardy and propagated by seed, with spacing 600–1500 stems per hectare; protection from browsing and weed control for at least two years, plus pruning and thinning to produce a final even crop, are common practices; harvest for framing timber occurs around 24–30 years and 30–35 years for clearwood; uses include timber, veneer, plywood, pulp, shelterbelts or hedges, and other wood products; it can naturalize beyond native range and may be invasive in some regions; pests and diseases include pitch canker Fusarium circinatum, Dothistroma needle blight, Diplodia, Sirex noctilio, and bark beetles.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

50-200 ft

Spread

20-32 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a–8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soils with depths of 50 cm or more, in loam, sandy, or gravelly textures, often with lower fertility

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.5-6.5, Mildly acidic to neutral soils

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Winter to Spring

Foliage Color

Green to dark green, often intense, with yellowish-green or bluish-green shades; sometimes blue-green on older trees

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color; evergreen; green year-round.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

1-2.5 m per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Grafts, Tissue culture / Embryogenesis

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts none of bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, or birds