Pinus coulteri aka Bigcone Pine

Pinus coulteri is an evergreen tree in the pine family. Its common names include Coulter pine and big-cone pine. It grows wild in western California and northern Baja California, Mexico. The tree has an open crown with a broad outline. Lower branches spread wide from the upright trunk. Branches may grow level or curve upward at their tips. Its large cones often hang near the branch ends.

Published height ranges differ across the sources. Virginia Tech gives 40–70 feet [12.2–21.3 metres]. Oregon State gives 33–79 feet [10–24 metres]. RHS lists garden height above 39 feet [12 metres]. It also lists a spread above 26 feet [8 metres]. The tree may take more than 50 years to mature. Older bark turns dark grey to black. Deep grooves divide its rough, scaly ridges. Thick shoots carry large, pointed buds coated with resin.

The stiff needles grow in bundles of three. Their colour ranges from grey-green to blue-grey. They crowd the ends of branches and last two to three years. RHS gives a needle length up to 1.15 feet [0.35 metres]. Fine pale lines run along the needles. Each tree bears both male and female cones. Virginia Tech describes yellow male cones in dense groups. Young female cones have a dark red-brown colour. Seed cones take two years to mature. Oregon State records cones up to 1.15 feet [0.35 metres] long. They turn pale yellow-brown and carry resin. Thick scales bear strong, curved spines. The large seeds have wings. Falling cones can cause injury because of their weight.

Grow this pine in full sun with soil that drains well. RHS accepts chalk, clay, loam and sand. The soil may be acid, neutral or alkaline. The tree withstands drought, heat and wind. Oregon State notes its use in high-desert sites. RHS rates it H5 for UK hardiness. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 8–9. Suggested settings include coastal gardens and street plantings. Its broad crown and huge cones give it a bold outline. Chicago Botanic Garden also lists resistance to deer.

The tree needs little routine pruning. Remove rival leaders when needed. Lower branches on older trees may need removal for clearance. RHS advises sowing seed in a cold frame in late winter. Keep young plants in pots for at least two years. Possible pests include adelgids, conifer aphids and sawfly larvae. Pine shoot moth may also attack it. Honey fungus and needle cast diseases can affect the tree.