Pinus lambertiana

Common Names

Sugar Pine, Great Sugar Pine, Big Sugar Pine, Sugar Pine Tree, Pino De Azucar, Ocote

Summary

Sugar pine is a large evergreen conifer native to western North America, from Oregon to Baja California, typically found in montane mixed-conifer forests with well-drained soils. It is exceptionally tall with a straight trunk and a narrowly conic to rounded crown; needles are blue-green in bundles of five; cones are among the longest of conifers and pendulous, with seeds that are edible and resin-rich heartwood adding to its distinctive character.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade on well-drained soils and tolerates drought, with hardiness to USDA Zone 7 and a long lifespan. Propagation is by seed, with stratification of 60–90 days; wood is used for lumber and veneers, and seeds are edible while resin is utilized as well. It remains vulnerable to white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

175-200 ft

Spread

40-50 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Various soils; no single ideal soil.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Around pH 7.0; slightly acidic to neutral.

Bloom Color

Brown

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green to deep blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color; evergreen (green year-round)

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Fast growth overall; early growth slow but accelerates with age; height growth about 0.3–1.0 m per year; basal-area growth about 2.5% per year on favorable sites

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds