40 Species of Pine Trees You Can Grow

Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis)

Aleppo pine, sometimes known as Jeruselum pine, is an extremely drought-resistant specimen that is a valuable landscape tree in hot climates, such as that of southern California. This pine tree is identified by its needles, which are a light yellowish-green. In some parts of the world, it is regarded as an invasive species, since it has a habit of taking over areas burned off by fire.

Aleppo pine is a large tree with a conical open-crowned shape. It works best on large properties where it has room to grow unimpeded.

Aleppo pines include two needles, and occasionally three, per bundle.

• Native Area: Mediterranean region
• USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10
• Height: 30 to 60 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)

This medium- to large-sized conifer transforms from a pyramidal shape to a rounded-top specimen when fully mature. Also known as European black pine, the Austrian pine can be used as a specimen tree in the landscape or for screening purposes, but it is susceptible to a variety of pest and disease problems, especially in the Midwest.

Austrian pine has two densely tufted needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Cyprus, Turkey
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
• Height: 40 to 100 feet
• Exposure: Full sun

Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata)

This slow-growing, long-lived tree native to the southern Rocky Mountains makes a great specimen tree in the landscape, where its small size is perfect. It is a dwarfish species that can be used as a shrub or allowed to grow to small tree sizes. The bristlecone may also be called hickory pine or Rocky Mountain bristlecone in some regions.

Bristlecone pine features five needles per bundle. It is one of the oldest known living plants at more than 4,000 years old.

• Native Area: Southern mountain regions of North America—Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
• Height: 8 to 30 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis)

This very large tree gradually develops a parasol-like canopy as it matures. It is a very sturdy, durable tree that tolerates most soil types. However, it does not tolerate cold. It is not a common landscape tree but is often farmed for its valuable, aromatic lumber.

Canary Island pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Canary Islands (Spain)
• USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
• Height: 50 to 80 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii)

This large pine native to the Himalayas is an important forestry tree in Asia, although the wood is inferior to that of many other pines. It has no meaningful landscape use but is sometimes planted in the far South for use in construction and furniture making. The chir pine is sometimes known as the imodi pine.

This pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Himalayan regions of Asia—Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
• USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
• Height: 60 to 180 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri)

Coulter pine is a large tree with an irregular crown and very large, heavy cones. Several common names are associated with it, including big cone pine, nut pine, pitch pine, and slash pine. Native to the coastal mountains of California and northern Baja California, Mexico, the Coulter pine grows in all soils including heavy clay but prefers rocky soil at medium altitudes. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens and has no commercial use, except as firewood.

The Coulter pine features three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: California, Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
• Height: 40 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

This fast-growing, long-lived pine is one of the most important pine species in North America, grown both for timber and landscape purposes. It's probably known as the most common type of pine tree since it's a popular choice for a Christmas tree. The eastern white pine (sometimes called simply a white pine) is by nature a large tree but it accepts pruning so readily that it can also be kept trained as a hedge shrub. Smooth gray bark becomes fissured with age. This tree does not tolerate pollution.

This pine has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: North America—United States and Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
• Height: 50 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Foxtail Pine (Pinus blfouriana)

This is a rare pine that is most commonly found at or near the tree line in the Sierra Mountains. It is almost never grown as a landscape tree, but nature lovers find it beautiful when coming across it in natural settings.

This pine has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: California
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
• Height: 20 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Gray Pine (Pinus sbiniana)

Gray pine is a tall pine with an unusual forked trunk. The tree is found in the low foothills of the California mountains, but it is rarely planted in landscape applications. The gray pine has several other common names—foothill pine, California foothill pine, bull pine, and digger pine.

This species has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: California
• USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 9
• Height: 40 to 70 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Italian Stone Pine (Pinus Pinea)

Italian stone pine is a classic umbrella-shaped pine from the Mediterranean (it is also frequently called an umbrella pine). It has a very attractive form, but it is rarely grown in U.S. landscapes. It has edible pignoli nuts in Mediterranean regions. The tree is sometimes planted commercially as a food crop.

This pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southern Europe, Lebanon, Turkey
• USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10
• Height: 30 to 60 feet tall
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)

Jack pine is a somewhat scruffy, shabby-looking pine that is rarely used in landscapes, but its tolerance for poor soils can make it a good choice for windbreaks in rural settings,

This slender species has two needles appearing in twisted, divergent pairs and produces curved cones. This species is also known as gray pine.

• Native Area: Northern U.S., Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
• Height: 30 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)

Japanese black pine (also called simply black pine) is an attractive, conical-shaped pine that can make a good specimen tree in the landscape. It is also sometimes used in bonsai craft. It is regarded as an invasive plant in Pennsylvania and a few other Atlantic coast states.

This pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Japan, South Korea
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
• Height: 20 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Japanese White Pine (Pinus Parviflora)

Japanese white pine is a medium-sized tree that is a common specimen tree and one of the best types of pine trees for landscaping. As the tree matures, it develops an attractive spreading branch pattern and flat top. This slow-growing conifer has fine, bluish foliage and purplish brown bark. It is a favorite for bonsai enthusiasts.

This pine tree has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Japan, South Korea
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
• Height: 25 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)

Jeffrey pine is a very tall but sparse tree that is rarely grown in landscape applications. It has a good tolerance for drought and poor soils. The black bark smells like vanilla and young shoots produce an attractive gray bloom. It is regarded as invasive and undesirable in much of California.

This species features three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: California, Nevada, Oregon, Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
• Height: 80 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Lacebark Pine (Pinus bungeana)

This tree has an exfoliating bark that looks similar to that of the sycamore. It grows quite slowly, taking 50 years to reach a mature height of 50 feet. Its attractive bark makes it a favorite landscape specimen.

The lacebark pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: China
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: 30 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)

Limber pine is a highly adaptable tree that does well in difficult soils. When planted in landscapes, it is used for challenging conditions, such as poor soil.

Limber pine has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: U.S., Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
• Height: 30 to 60 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Loblolly pine is naturally found in swampy areas in the Southeast, and its landscape uses are mostly confined to that region for damp, boggy soil conditions. It has a very straight trunk, and as it ages, the tree loses lower branches so that the crown towers far above the ground.

Loblolly pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: U.S.
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
• Height: 50 to 80 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)

Depending on the subspecies and variety, the lodgepole pine is a shrub or tree. As the botanical name contorta hints, the trunks on the tree tend to be twisted and contorted. This species is well suited to windy, barren sites and tolerates waterlogged ground. Rarely used in landscape planting, this pine does have commercial use as a source of construction lumber, poles, pulpwood, and veneers.

Lodgepole pine is a widely distributed pine that goes by many different common names in different regions, including beach pine, shore pine, coast pine, Bolander pine, Sierra lodgepole pine, tamarack pine, Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine, and black pine.

This species has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: North America
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
• Height: 15 to 50 feet, depending on subspecies
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Longleaf pine is a very tall, upright tree with a straight trunk. It has few uses as a landscape tree but is a valuable commercial tree for lumber and pulpwood. This type of pine tree has long needles that are 8 to 18 inches long and is the source of its common name.

Longleaf pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southern U.S.
• USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
• Height: 60 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Luchu Pine (Pinus luchuensis)

This large pine with angled branches and a flat crown is a rare tree, originally found only in Okinawa. Other common names include Ryuku Island pine and old-style pine. It can be a good tree for shoreline landscapes.

Luchu pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Okinawa, Japan
• USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
• Height: 50 to 80 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster)

Maritime pine was originally highly prized as a source of timber and resins, but its attractive upswept branches and conical crown make it equally valuable as a landscape specimen. This species is well-suited to dry, sandy soil. It is also known as cluster pine or French turpentine pine.

This species has two, or sometimes three, needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southern Europe, Morocco
• USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
• Height: 60 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Mexican Weeping Pine (Pinus patula)

This unique-looking pine has drooping tufts of needles that give the tree a droopy, weepy appearance. An important lumber tree in its native Mexico, this tree (also known as jelecote pine or patula pine) makes a very unique specimen when planted as a landscape tree.

Mexican weeping pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 9
• Height: 60 to 80 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)

Monterey pine (sometimes called radiata pine) is a large-bodied tree with a thick trunk and branches. This fast-growing conifer matures from a conical shape to a domed top. Black bark contrasts with bright green leaves. It is a very versatile species with commercial uses as well as common landscape uses. Native to the foggy coastal areas of California, it has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is now the most prevalent tree for timber. Monterey pine makes an excellent windbreak.

Monterey pine has three needles (occasionally two) per bundle.

• Native Area: California, Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
• Height: 50 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)

Mugo pine is a dwarf, creeping shrub or small tree with hard, heavy branches. It makes an interesting shrub specimen in the landscape, or when planted in mass can serve to hold soil and prevent erosion. Be sure to read the tag for height information if you are looking for the dwarf kind. Dwarf kinds are 'Compacta,' 'Gnome,' 'Hesse,' var. mugo, and var. pumilo.

This pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Europe
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
• Height: 3 to 6 feet as a shrub; 10 to 25 feet as a small tree (depends on variety)
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)

Historically, pitch pine was a major source of pine resin used in everything from canoe-building to railroad ties. Its crooked growth habit and somewhat shabby overall appearance give it little usefulness for timber or a landscape specimen.

The pitch pine has three needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Eastern U.S., Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
• Height: 50 to 100 feet tall
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Pond Pine (Pinus serotina)

Pond pine is a species known to hold its seed cones closed for many years, opening them only after a fire has scorched them. Older trees become thin and ragged. Pond pine is increasingly used commercially for pulp. This species is sometimes known as marsh pine, bay pine, or pocosin pine.

This species of pine has three, or sometimes four needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Eastern U.S.
• USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
• Height: 30 to 70 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

The immense size and large, straight, thick trunks have made the Ponderosa pine one of the most prized of all species for commercial lumber. It is frequently seen as an ornamental specimen in parks and large landscapes and is grown for its distinctive deeply fissured bark. This tree also goes by the common names western yellow pine, bull pine, black Jack, western red pine, and western longleaf pine.

This tree has three (sometimes two) needles per bundle.

• Native Area: U.S., British Columbia, Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
• Height: 60 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Red Pine, Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa)

The red pine, also known as the Norway pine or Canadian pine, is a tall, straight tree with a conical crown that becomes rounded with age. It makes a good landscape specimen plant in the northern part of its range, zones 2 to 5.

The red pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Northern U.S., Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
• Height: 50 to 80 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Sand Pine (Pinus clausa)

As the name implies, the sand pine prefers sandy, well-drained soils. It is a medium-sized pine that does well in shady conditions, and some types have serotinous cones, which require fire before they will open and expel their seeds. Sand pines (also called scrub pines) are not often used for landscape plantings, but young trees are sometimes farmed as Christmas trees.

This pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southern U.S.—Alabama and Florida
• USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
• Height: 15 to 60 feet; occasionally up to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Scots pine (incorrectly known as Scotch pine) is a fast-growing, medium-sized tree with a conical or column-shaped habit and distinctive flaking brown-red bark. Commercially, it is grown as a Christmas tree. Smaller dwarf varieties make some of the best types of pine trees for landscaping. Plant in a protected site as this species is susceptible to wind damage.

Scotch pine features two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Europe, Asia
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
• Height: 20 to 30 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Single-Leaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)

Single-leaf pinyon pine is a small- to medium-sized tree with flaking bark and single needles. In some regions, it is used as a Christmas tree but is rarely used in landscape plantings, since it is difficult to propagate.

This species has only one needle per bundle—the only species where this is the case.

• Native Area: Western U.S., Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: 15 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)

Sugar pine​ ​is the tallest of all pine trees with very longest cones—nearly 2 feet in length. Its sheer size (it is also called the giant pine) makes this tree impractical for landscape use.

This pine has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: California, Nevada, Oregon, Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 7
• Height: 100 to 200 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Tanyosho Pine/Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora #39;Umbraculifera #39;)

Pinus densiflora is the most common of all pine trees native to Japan, and 'Umbraculifera' is a dwarf variety usually grown as a shrub or small tree. It is often used in foundation plantings and is sometimes grown by bonsai enthusiasts. The species may also be called by the common names umbrella pine or tabletop pine.

This species of pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Asia
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
• Height: 12 to 20 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Tenasserim Pine (Pinus latteri)

Tenasserim pine is a medium- to large-sized tree with orange-red bark. It is closely related to the Aleppo pine. The crown of the tree gradually becomes rounded as the tree ages. It is sometimes planted as a landscape specimen tree in warm climates.

This tree has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southeast Asia—Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
• USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10
• Height: 80 to 150 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyanna)

Torrey pine is a rare species, found only in the coastal sage and chaparral areas of southern California. It has a broad, open-crowned growth habit that becomes twisted in fantastic shapes by coastal winds. Where it appears, the Torrey pine is usually protected by law. It is also sometimes known as the Del Mar pine or Soledad pine.

This tree has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Southern California
• USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10
• Height: 25 to 60 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Turkish Pine (Pinus brutia)

Turkish pine is a very popular ornamental tree for warm climates. Several cultivars are available with a remarkable tolerance for heat and drought. It has attractive, deeply fissured red-brown bark.

Turkish pine has two needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Western Asia—Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine
• USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 11
• Height: 30 to 80 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Two-Needle Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis)

Two-needle pinyon (sometimes just called a pinyon pine) is a small- to medium-sized pine with furrowed and scaly bark. It is considered a two-needle variation of the single-needle pinyon pine, and the pine nuts are edible. It is sometimes planted as a landscape specimen tree and can be farmed as a Christmas tree.

The tree has two, or occasionally three, needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Western/Central U.S., Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
• Height: Up to 20 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

This tree is a small- to medium-sized specimen and is a good choice for providing a winter accent to the landscape. Young shoots bear a pinkish-white bloom. Some cultivars turn an attractive yellow-gold in winter. It is often farmed for Christmas trees.

The Virginia pine has two needles per bundle. It is also known as Jersey pine, spruce pine, and Virginia scrub pine.

• Native Area: Eastern U.S.
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
• Height: 10 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Western White Pine (Pinus monticola)

Western white pine is related to the eastern white pine, and is one of the largest of the pines, occasionally reaching 150 feet. It is too large to be commonly used in landscaping, but in its native habitat (the northern states of the Pacific Northwest), the tree can be found in the mountains and at sea level. Regionally, it may be known as the mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine.

This pine has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Western U.S., Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
• Height: 60 to 150 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun

Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)

Whitebark pine is closely related to the limber pine, and like that tree, the whitebark thrives at high elevations near the tree line. A scrubby tree, it is rarely used in landscape plantings. This tree is a threatened species in its native range.

The whitebark pine has five needles per bundle.

• Native Area: Western U.S., Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
• Height: 20 to 60 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun