Pinus jeffreyi aka Jeffrey Pine

Pinus jeffreyi, or Jeffrey pine, is a large evergreen tree. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. Its range runs from southern Oregon to northern Baja California. It also grows in the far west of Nevada. This mountain pine lives on dry slopes and near moist meadows. It can cope with poor soil and cold weather. Trees grow slowly and can live for many years.

Size reports place tall trees at 80–140 feet [24–43 metres]. Missouri Botanical Garden lists a spread near 35 feet [10.67 metres]. RHS gives a smaller spread of 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres]. A straight trunk supports a crown that rounds with age. Young trees have a cone-shaped crown, with branches that spread upward. Old trees may lack branches on the trunk's lower half. Thick, brown bark forms scaly plates with deep cracks. Its scent can recall vanilla, lemon, or pineapple. Stout, purple-brown twigs may carry a pale, powdery coat.

Blue-green needles grow in groups of three and twist slightly. They can stay on the tree for five to eight years. Their length reaches about 0.9 feet [0.28 metres]. Jeffrey pine bears cones rather than true flowers. Both male and female cones grow on the same tree. The young cones are red and sit at branch tips. Mature female cones turn brown and become oval. They reach about 0.5–0.8 feet [0.15–0.25 metres] long. Their spines curve inward, so the cones feel less prickly.

Grow this pine in full sun, with soil that drains well. Moist, sandy or gravelly soil suits it well. It also accepts clay loam and other well-drained soils. RHS lists acid, neutral, and alkaline soils as suitable. Established trees resist drought, but wet ground does not suit them. Cool summers suit this species better than heat and humidity. Sources place it in USDA zones 5–7 and RHS H6. Its size calls for a large site or naturalized planting. It needs no routine pruning and gives winter interest.

Birds and small mammals eat the seeds and find cover. The tree also hosts Imperial moth larvae and resists deer. People use its wood for lumber. PFAF lists seeds as food, either raw or cooked. It also records eating hardened sap as a sweet. Wind can damage this tree. Adelgids, aphids, sawfly larvae, and pine shoot moth may attack it. Honey fungus and needle cast can also cause trouble. The evidence does not establish a species-specific toxicity rating.