Great Design Plant: Pinyon Pine

by Jocelyn H. Chilvers · 6 photos · 7 comments

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by Jocelyn H. Chilvers

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Botanical name: Pinus cembroides edulis
Common name: Pinyon pine
Origin: Native to the southwestern United States
USDA zones: 4 to 9 (find your zone)
Elevation range: 4,000 to 8,000 feet
Water requirement: Very low
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 25 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Cold hardy; small-scale evergreen tree with edible nuts; tolerant of heat, drought, poor soils and wind
Seasonal interest: Green year-round
When to plant: Spring through early fall

by Jocelyn H. Chilvers

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Distinguishing traits. Pinyon pine is a slow-growing, short-needle pine that typically has two 1 1/2- to 2-inch-long needles per fascicle (bundle). The chunky 2-inch cones produce tasty nuts that ripen in late September through October.

by Jocelyn H. Chilvers

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How to use it. Pinyon pines are ideal evergreen trees for small landscapes. They may be used as an accent specimen or grouped to form a dense screen. They are ideal candidates for planting on berms, as they must have good drainage.

Combine them with other drought-tolerant natives, like rabbitbrush (Ericameria spp, shown here), sagebrush (Artemesia spp), fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium) and Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa).

by Jocelyn H. Chilvers

contemporary by Boor Bridges Architecture

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by Boor Bridges Architecture

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Planting notes. Pinyons are tolerant of poor, infertile soils and will even establish on rocky slopes. They must have good drainage, so avoid planting them in heavy clay soil. Pinyons develop a deep taproot; choose the planting location carefully, as they don't transplant well. Avoid overwatering. Once they're established, they prefer deep, infrequent soaking.

More trees for the landscape

by Jocelyn H. Chilvers

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lynneldavis We have many pinyons here in northern Arizona, be aware and treat for scale that infects them. Needles turn brown and fall off. The needles will never come back. We have our trees sprayed every March. If left untreated the scale will infect surrounding trees,and eventually the tree will die. To check for scale take a white sheet of paper and shake the branch above it ,if you have black specks like black ground pepper on the paper, you better treat asap.

3 months ago · Like ·

tsudhonimh Absolutely INTOLERANT of poor drainage and frequent watering. It kills them really fast.

And that wonderful smelling resin drips and oozes off the trees at some seasons, so keep them away from things you don't want to have all sticky.

Very slow growing unless you give them the infrequent deep soaking they need, can grow surprisingly fast in a location that is perfect.

Don't expect much of a nut crop until the tree is 15-20 years old.

3 months ago · Like ·

happyjackjane We have land in N. Central AZ with loads of Pinyons and Apache Plume. While the nuts of the Pinyon are so tasty and sweet, they are harder than hades to remove from the cones...and your fingers get all sticky! @lynneldavis: thanks for the information about scale.

3 months ago · Like ·

iamels I am surprised the State of New Mexico was not included in the list of states. The Pinyon is is the State Tree of New Mexico.

3 months ago · Like ·