Pinus muricata

Common Names

Bishop Pine, Pricklecone Pine, Dwarf Marine Pine, Obispo Pine, Santa Cruz Island Pine, Bishop's Pine, Santa Cruz Pine, Umbrella Pine, California Swamp Pine

Summary

Bishop pine is native to coastal western North America, from Humboldt County, California to Baja California and on offshore Channel Islands, where dry, rocky soils and maritime exposure prevail. It is an evergreen conifer reaching about 15–25 m in height with a rounded crown and trunk up to 1.2 m in diameter; needles occur in pairs and measure 8–16 cm, bluish-green in northern populations and greener in southern forms; cones are 4–9 cm long, spiny and often serotinous, opening after fire; bark is dark gray and deeply furrowed, and the crown can be twisted or broad in exposed sites.

For cultivation, full sun and very well-drained soils are preferred; drought- and salt spray-tolerant, with shade intolerance; USDA hardiness zone 8. Propagation is by seed, with cold stratification of about 6 weeks at 4°C to improve germination; cones mature after about 22–24 months and seeds can remain viable for up to 25 years. Uses include erosion control, dune stabilization, shelterbelt, and ornamental plantings, and it is suitable for windy coastal landscapes; maintenance may require occasional irrigation in prolonged dry spells, and plants may be wind-felled in severe gales.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

49-82 ft

Spread

66-98 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy or gravelly loam

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil (prefers light, sandy or gravelly loam).

Soil pH

4.0-8.0, Acidic to neutral, Mildly acidic to neutral soils; can grow in very acidic soils

Bloom Color

Orange

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Blue-green to green, with grey-green to blue-green and yellow-green in some populations.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color; evergreen.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Fast to rapid growth, up to 2 m/year when young

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seed propagation only, seeds windborne and collected from open cones after fire (serotinous cones open after fire; ~80% germination), fresh seeds require no treatment, stored seeds require 1 month stratification, no vegetative propagation noted.

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies and birds