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Pinus torreyana

Pinus torreyana Parry ex Carrière

Torrey Pine

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: pito

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Medium-sized tree with open, spreading crown of branches; shrubby on exposed sites.

One of the rarest native conifers; only several thousand trees exist. A large part of the mainland grove north of San Diego is within Torrey Pines State Park. When cultivated elsewhere for shade and commercial forestry in moist, warm climates, the trees grow rapidly to large size.

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Fascicled
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Margin: Serrulate
Leaf Apex: Acute
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 75 feet tall.
Fruit: Seed cones may take up to 3 years to mature.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , Brown
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: S. California (San Diego County) and Santa Rosa Island; to 500' (152 m).
Native Habitat: Limited to 2 areas on dry, sandy bluffs and slopes; in pure stands.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1984 VOL. 1, NO.4 - Lady Bird Heartened by Progress, Horticultural Society Annual Meeting Held, Dire...

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-12
Research By: TWC Staff

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