Pinus teocote aka Aztec Pine

Pinus teocote is an evergreen tree in the pine family. Its common names include Aztec pine and twisted-leaf pine. It is native to Mexico and grows across much of that country. Its range extends south to Oaxaca and Chiapas. It grows in open woods and forests, often among oaks. Many sites have dry, shallow soil on rolling ground. Its native sites lie 3,610–8,860 feet [1,100–2,700 metres] above sea level.

Garden references give a height of about 98 feet [30 metres]. Broader accounts describe trees reaching 66–115 feet [20–35 metres]. The crown may form a pyramid or a rounded shape. Its branches spread out from a straight, round trunk. The trunk can reach about 2.5 feet [0.75 metres] across. This large tree can form the canopy of a woodland garden. It keeps its foliage through the year.

One tree bears both male and female reproductive structures. Wind carries the pollen, but the species is not self-fertile. Self-fertilized seeds tend to produce weak plants. The seeds ripen from January to February. Cones open while still attached to the tree and release seed. Leaf secretions can hinder the sprouting of seeds below the crown. This can limit the plants that grow beneath it.

Give this pine full sun and soil that drains well. It suits sandy or gravelly loam, including soil low in nutrients. Mildly acid to neutral soil suits it. It can grow in dry or moist ground. Established trees can cope with drought, but poor drainage does not suit them. Reports differ on how much frost it can bear. Some warn that temperatures at or below -5°C may kill it. Others report brief survival near -10°C while dormant. New growth may suffer damage at -1°C. Young plants need protection through their first winter or two.

People harvest this tree for timber, resin, and local medicinal use. Its needles can yield tan or green dye. Processing its pulpwood can also yield a vanillin flavouring. This use does not establish that other parts are edible. Heavy harvest for wood and resin may harm some local stands. Useful Tropical Plants reports a stable population overall. It cites a 2013 IUCN assessment of Least Concern.