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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Pinus bungeana Form
Pinus koraiensis Pinus koraiensis
Pinus ponderosa Pinus ponderosa
Pinus edulis has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers
Striped Pine Scale

Colorado Pinyon Pine Pinus edulis

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus ED-yew-liss
Description

Pinyon Pine is a gnarled evergreen with horizontal branches. It is symmetrical and bushy when young, develops a flat crown with age.

Its tasty seeds are edible. Known as pinyon nuts, Indian nuts, pine nuts, and pinoñes, they can be eaten raw, roasted or used in candies. 

Pollen and Seed cones are both present on this variety. The egg-shaped pollen cones are yellow to red-brown. The egg-shaped seed cones mature 2 years after pollination, becoming more rounded in shape. The seeds are then dispersed.

In the USA, this plant can typically be found in the southwest at elevations over 4500 feet above sea level on dry slopes, mesas, and plateaus. Its wood is commonly used for fence posts and firewood.

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#hardy#drought tolerant#edible nuts#deer resistant#nighttime garden#picturesque#edible seeds#larval host plant#wind damage prone#imperial moth#shade intolerant#long lived#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#hardy#drought tolerant#edible nuts#deer resistant#nighttime garden#picturesque#edible seeds#larval host plant#wind damage prone#imperial moth#shade intolerant#long lived#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinus
    Species:
    edulis
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southwestern USA
    Fire Risk Rating:
    high flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
    Edibility:
    Large edible seeds
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 36 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Oval
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Scales and fleshy when green, then reddish-brown. 1 to 1 1/2" long, slender in clusters of 2/3.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    2 in. cones
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    .7 to 1.5 in. needles in bundles of 2, sometimes 1 or 3
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Light Brown
    Bark Description:
    Red-brown bark has shallow and irregular furrows, rounded, scaly ridges.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil