Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Pinus cembroides (Mexican pinyon)
Chaney, Patsy (Davis Mts., TX)

Pinus cembroides Zucc.

Mexican pinyon, Mexican pinyon pine

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

USDA Symbol: PICE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Mexican pinyon is a small, bushy evergreen, 15-30 ft. tall, with a compact, rounded crown and rich, blue-green needles occurring in bundles of three. Small, resinous tree with short trunk and spreading crown of low, horizontal branches and thick-walled, edible seeds; often shrubby.

The hard seeds are the main commercial pinyon nuts (pinones) of Mexico. However, in the United States this species has limited distribution and usually bears light cone crops; other species with thin-walled seeds are more common. Rodents, especially packrats, eat the seeds.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Leaf Shape: Linear
Fruit Type: Cone
Leaf Color: Dark Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: NM , TX
Native Distribution: C. & w. TX to s.e. AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Pinyon-juniper woodlands or mesas and mountain slopes; 5000 to 7500 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils. Caliche type, Limestone-based Sandy Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Seeds are oily and edible.

Propagation

Description: Sow fresh, untreated seed in late fall. Seedlings are quite susceptible to damping-off.
Seed Collection: Collect cones from vigorous trees in late summer and fall just before they completely open to drop seeds. Spread cones on racks to dry so they will release seeds. Cones may be shaken to release seeds. Store at a moisture content of 5-10 % fresh weight.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Prevent complete soil dryness, Prune to maintain shape, Remove dead growth, Fertilize 3 times a year with lawn fertilizer 3:1:2 ratio
Please support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Dale Groom's Texas Gardening Guide (2002) Groom, D.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pinus cembroides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pinus cembroides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pinus cembroides

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-24
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back