Sugar Pine
Pinus lambertiana
Also listed as Picea lambertiana, Strobus lambertiana
Also known as California Sugar Pine, Big Pine
Climate Match for your location
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A majestic high-elevation conifer native to the Sierra Nevada with a tall, narrow form and distinctive long needles in fascicles of five. The largest pine species in North America, it thrives in cool, mountainous climates and produces large cones with edible seeds.
Why grow it
Sugar pine grows taller and faster than most other five-needle pines, making it valuable where a large conifer is desired in suitable climates. The edible seeds are a nutritional resource that most other pine species cannot match, though harvest requires patience as trees take 15-20 years to produce viable cones. It is confined to high-elevation sites in western mountains and performs poorly outside its native range, so it suits only specific microclimates rather than general ornamental use.
Watch out for
This species requires consistent moisture and cool temperatures typical of mountain elevations above 3,000 feet; lowland or warm-climate plantings often decline without intensive management. Establishment from seed or young transplants demands protection from competition and browsing pressure during the first several years. Dense planting or poor air circulation in humid regions may increase susceptibility to foliar diseases.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Pinaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Sierra Nevada mountains, California and Oregon
Native to: California, Nevada, Oregon
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A majestic high-elevation conifer native to the Sierra Nevada with a tall, narrow form and distinctive long needles in fascicles of five. The largest pine species in North America, it thrives in cool, mountainous climates and produces large cones with edible seeds.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sugar Pine grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sugar pine grows taller and faster than most other five-needle pines, making it valuable where a large conifer is desired in suitable climates. The edible seeds are a nutritional resource that most other pine species cannot match, though harvest requires patience as trees take 15-20 years to produce viable cones. It is confined to high-elevation sites in western mountains and performs poorly outside its native range, so it suits only specific microclimates rather than general ornamental use.
Watch out for
This species requires consistent moisture and cool temperatures typical of mountain elevations above 3,000 feet; lowland or warm-climate plantings often decline without intensive management. Establishment from seed or young transplants demands protection from competition and browsing pressure during the first several years. Dense planting or poor air circulation in humid regions may increase susceptibility to foliar diseases.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Pinaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Sierra Nevada mountains, California and Oregon
Native to: California, Nevada, Oregon
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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