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| ## Monterey Pine {#monterey-pine .Title-Header}                       |
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| *Pinus radiata* D. Don                                                |
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| Plant Symbol = PIRA2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.1805555555555554in" height="2.1486111111111112in"}

# Alternate Names

Insignias pine, radiata pine, Cambria pine

##### 

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: The seeds of all pine species are edible and pine nuts
have historically been an important food utilized by many Native
American tribes (Strike 1994). Pines were also valued for their wood,
sap, and pine needles. Because of its restricted range, few tribes used
Monterey pine. The Costanoan and probably the Salinan relied on the
seeds as a source of food in coastal areas of their territory. Pedro
Fages (1937) describes the California Indians in the Monterey area as
using many kinds of pine nuts and among them those of Monterey pine. He
writes, "the cones of the pine tree are small, and the nuts are
extremely so, but very good and pleasing to the taste. The method of
gathering them is to build a fire at the foot of the tree, which in a
few hours falls, making the fruit available without difficulty" (Fages
1937; 68-69). Many bedrock mortars are found adjacent to Monterey pine
forests, which may be additional evidence of their use by both tribes
(Leonard 1963). The closed cones of Monterey pines were probably a
particularly valuable resource because they remain on the tree and can
therefore be harvested all through the year. The closed cones open in
response to heat and could be easily opened by placing them on or near a
fire. Pine nuts were eaten whole or pounded into flour that was made
into porridge or mixed with other foods. The young, male catkins are
edible and said to have a nice flavor either raw or cooked (Couplan
1998). During heavy winters or times of scarcity the inner bark of pine
trees would serve as an emergency food.

The needles of pines, which contain vitamin C, were brewed into a tea
that was drunk to treat headaches (Heinsen 1972). The Costanoan and
others chewed pine resin to treat rheumatism. This resin or pitch was
used as a salve that was applied to burns and sores. Pine resins were
useful as glue or sealant. Pine resin was also chewed as gum. Pine nuts
were burned into charcoal, crushed, and then applied to both sores and
burns. Various Native American tribes used the split roots of many pine
species as the foundation to make fish traps, seed beaters, burden and
many other types of baskets (Murphey 1959). The inner portions of
slender new pine twigs could be processed into sewing materials (Barrett
& Gifford 1933).

*Livestock*: Goats browse on Monterey pines.

*Wildlife*: Black-tailed deer browse the leaves and branches of Monterey
pine. Porcupines are known to browse on leaves and branches as well as
eat the bark. Small mammals including deer mice, chipmunks, and ground
squirrels eat the seeds. Among the birds that eat the seeds are scrub
jays, Stellar jays, and crows. Nesting chestnut-backed chickadees have
been observed to obtain almost 80% of their insect diet from foraging in
Monterey pine trees (Kleintjes & Dahlsten 1994).

*Other*: Monterey pine is used for erosion control and stabilization of
steep slopes because it is fast growing and has a wide spreading root
system. The trees are sometimes used as Christmas trees.

# Status

The California Native Plant Society considers Monterey pine rare in its
native range. Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status (e.g.
threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland
indicator values).

# Weediness

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and
may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding
its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS
Web site.

# Description

######## General: Pine family (Pinaceae). Monterey pines are native to California and Baja California where they occur in only a few small populations. Mature Monterey pines can reach 38 m in height with trunks up to 2 m in diameter. The young trees begin as compact pyramids but age into varied shapes. The adult canopy is usually rounded to flat-topped. Along the Pacific coast, the winds sculpt Monterey pine canopies into picturesque shapes. The bark is red-brown to blackish brown and has deep furrows. The leaves are glossy, dark green needles, 6-15 cm long that grow in bundles of three. Needles on older trees are sometimes a bluish green. Flowers appear in late winter or early spring. The trees are monoecious; having both male and female flowers (McDonald & Laacke 1990). The yellow male catkins are 12mm long and are generally found on the lateral branches. Female flowers grow throughout the entire canopy. The grayish brown cones are asymmetrically oval, 6 to 15 cm long, and are born on short stalks in clusters of 3 to 7 cones. The scales are smooth and rounded. Each cone contains from 120 to 200 dark brown to black, bumpy winged seeds that are 6-7mm long. The cones remain closed on the tree until the second year or sometimes longer. Cones generally ripen and open from late winter to early spring of the second year. Thereafter, they may remain on the tree where they can open and close several times depending on temperature and moisture. The close-grained wood is light and soft. Although it is not considered an important lumber tree in California, it has been widely planted in areas with Mediterranean climates throughout the world for use as lumber and pulp. 

*Distribution*: Monterey pines are native to California and Baja
California. Native Monterey pine forests occupy a small portion of their
historical range and are currently restricted to five coastal locations:
Año Nuevo in the north, the Monterey Peninsula, Cambria, and on
Guadalupe and Cedros islands off the coast of Baja, California in the
south.

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: Monterey pines grow below 1200 meters in closed cone pine
forests and oak woodlands. The species is one of the 18 California
species of pines and cypresses that bear closed cones (Dallman 1998:27).
The remaining stands of Monterey pine are threatened by numerous factors
including urbanization, recreational development, and fire suppression,
pests and diseases. Fire suppression has resulted in very old stands of
forest, which are more susceptible to attacks from pests and diseases.
In the Monterey area, the trees are seriously threatened by an epidemic
of "pine pitch canker", a fungal disease caused by *Fusarium subglutans
pini*. This fungus was recently introduced to California from the
southeastern United States and is carried from tree to tree by several
native insects including the Monterey pine cone beetle (*Conophthorus
radiatae*), twig beetles (*Pitophthorus* spp.) and engraver beetles
(*Ips* spp.). Indigenous stands of Monterey pine are also threatened by
genetic contamination, which results from crossbreeding with planted
trees that were brought in from other areas.

# Adaptation

Monterey pines are adapted to soils of medium to heavy texture. Monterey
pines have serotinous cones that do not release the seeds unless
subjected to high temperatures. Superheating may occur on very hot days
or during fire events. Because hot days do not often occur in the
Central Coast of California, replenishment of the seed bank is highly
dependant on fire (Hillyard 1997).

# Establishment

Monterey pines are ornamental as well as useful. This species is the
most widely cultivated pine in the world (Templeton et al. 1997).
Monterey pines are also the most widely planted trees for choose-and-cut
Christmas tree farms in California. They are excellent shade trees, act
as effective wind and sound barriers, and have been used for erosion
control.

Be careful to select a proper place to plant these fast growing trees.
Monterey pines are the most rapid growing pine of over 90 species that
occur in the world (Labadie 1978). Young trees can grow up to 2 meters
per year, generally reaching from 12 to 18 meters within 25 years. The
trees have an average life span of 80 to 90 years.

These trees require deep, well drained, medium to course textured soils
of medium fertility. Trees that are planted on shallow or waterlogged
soils may be unstable because of shallow vertical roots. Monterey pines
can be damaged or killed in areas where temperatures reach below
freezing.

Monterey pines are usually transplanted from containers or bare
rootstock grown by commercial nurseries. However, these plants usually
come from New Zealand stock. Even though the New Zealand stock
originated from California populations, crossbreeding with native
populations is considered a threat to the native population's
conservation because of genetic contamination (Cope 1993).

Seed may propagate Monterey pine trees. Handpick mature cones from the
trees or from the ground. Air-dry opened cones by spreading them in a
sunny, dry place. To open closed cones, drop them into boiling water for
1 to 2 minutes or more, if needed. Remove the seeds from the cones by
shaking them out. Although the cones require heat in order to release
the seeds, the seeds do not generally require pretreatment in order to
germinate. One to three weeks of cold-moist stratification may improve
germination, especially for seeds that have been stored (Emery 1988).
Monterey pines are not generally propagated by cuttings as, even with
bottom heat, the cuttings may take four or more months to form roots.

# Management

Established trees require occasional deep watering accompanied by a
light fertilization to remain healthy. To control the size of the tree,
and to increase bushiness, the new growth, called candles, may be pruned
in the spring as they appear. Remove dead or dying branches.

# Pests and Potential Problems

Western dwarf mistletoe, western gall rust, various needle blights,
pitch moth, red turpentine beetle, pitch canker, Monterey pine scale,
irregular pine scale, pine leaf scale, aphids, mites, pine tip borer,
pine tip moth.

# Environmental Concerns

Although Monterey pines are threatened in their present native habitat,
they have been considered a weedy pest in some areas of California where
they have escaped cultivation. Millar (1998) uses fossil evidence to
support an alternate view: that Monterey pine populations have
historically shifted in size and location along the California and Baja
coasts in response to changing climate. She suggests, that in order to
allow for the continued survival of Monterey pines, establishment of new
stands of native stock within the pine's historical range should be
considered as opportunities for their conservation and not as a threat
to other native species.

# Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

These plants are readily available from commercial sources. Request
plants established from native California rather than New Zealand
stock.\
If you are planting trees in areas near native stands, be sure the seeds
or seedlings are from the same genetic stock as those stands.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

# References

Barrett, S.A. & E.W. Gifford 1933. *Miwok material culture: Indian life
of the Yosemite region.* Bulletin of Milwaukee Public Museum Vol. 2, No.
4. Yosemite Association, Yosemite National Park, CA. 388 pp.

Brenzel, K.N., Editor 2001. *Western garden book*. Sunset Publishing
Corp., Menlo Park, CA. 768 pp.

Burns, R.M. & B.H. Honkala 1990. *Silvics of North American, Volume 1,
Conifers.* Agricultural Handbook 654, Forest Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington D.C. Pp. 443-441.

Cope, Amy B. 1993. *Pinus radiata*. IN: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences
Laboratory 2001, May. *Fire Effects Information System*, \[Online\].
Available: <http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/>. \[Accessed: 20 October
2001\].

Couplan, F. 1998. *The encyclopedia of edible plants of North America.*
Keats Publishing, New Canaan, Connecticut. 584 pp.

Dallman, P.R. 1998. *Plant life in the world's Mediterranean climates:
California*. Fremontia, Vol. 26, No. 2. Pp18-27.

Emery, D.E. 1988. *Seed propagation of native California plants*. Santa
Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California. 115 pp.

Fages, P. 1937. *A historical, political, and natural description of
California*. Translation by H.I. Priestley, University of California
Press, Berkeley, California. 83 pp.

Heinsen, V. 1972. *The medicinal herbs of Mission San Antonio de Padua.*
Lockwood, California. 46 pp.

Heizer, R.F. & A.B. Elsasser 1980. *The natural world of the California
Indians.* University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles,
California. 271 pp.

Hickman, J.D., Editor 1993. *The Jepson manual: Higher plants of
California.* University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1400
pp.

Hillyard, D. 1997. *Challenges in conserving Monterey pine forest.*
Fremontia, Vol. 15, No. 2. Pp. 16-20.

Kleintjes, P.K. & D.L. Dahlsten 1994. *Foraging behavior and nestling
diet of chestnut-backed chickadees in Monterey pine.* The Condor, Vol.
96. Pp. 647-653.

Labadie, E.L. 1978. *Native plants for use in the California landscape.*
Sierra City Press, Sierra City, California. 248 pp.

Leonard, N. N. 1968. *Part 1: Salvage investigations at the Pico Creek.*
Archaeological salvage of the Pico Creek and Little Pico Creek sites, in
Luis Obispo County, California*.* Archives of California Archaeology
Paper No. 4. Coyote Press, Salinas, California.

Millar, C.I. 1998. *Reconsidering the conservation of Monterey pine.*
Fremontia Vol. 26, No. 3. Pp 12-16.

Moerman, D.E. 1998. *Native American ethnobotany*. Timber Press,
Portland, Oregon. 927 pp.

Munz P.A. & D.D. Keck 1963. *A California flora.* University of
California Press, Berkeley & Los Angeles, California. 1681 pp.

Murphey, E.V.A. 1959. *Indian uses of native plants.* Mendocino County
Historical Society, Fort Bragg, California. 81 pp.

Schmidt, M.G. 1980. *Growing California native plants.* University of
California Press, Berkeley, California. 366 pp.

Strike, S.S. 1994. *Ethnobotany of the California Indians Vol. 2:
Aboriginal uses of California's indigenous plants.* Koeltz Scientific
Books USA, Champaign, Illinois. 210 pp.

Webber, C. 1998. *Pinus radiata*. California Academy of Sciences.
Digital Library Project, University of California, Berkeley. \[Online\]
Available: http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?
seq_num=17181&one=T. \[15 October 2001\].

Young, J. A. & C.G. Young 1992. *Seeds of woody plants in North
America.* Dioscorides Press, Portland, Oregon. Pp. 248-266.

# Prepared By: 

######## Diana L. Immel

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Environmental
Horticulture Department, University of California, Davis, California

# Species Coordinator: 

##### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o

Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, California

##### Edited: 05apr02 ahv; 29may03 ahv; 060803 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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