Plant Database

Other Names:  Colorado Pinyon, syn. PInus cembroides var. edulis

Description:

A stately upright pine with dense branching and soft green needles; its youthful conical habit becomes more broad and flat topped with a large diameter trunk; a beautiful accent tree for the home landscape

Ornamental Features

Pinyon Pine is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The needles are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Pinyon Pine is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pinyon Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent

Planting & Growing

Pinyon Pine will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.