Pinus balfouriana subsp. austrina

Family: Pinaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Southern foxtail pine is a native shrub found in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in subalpine forest at elevations of 2,700 to 3,700 meters. Its mature bark develops thick, red-brown plates that create a distinctive squared pattern on the trunk. Growing as a compact, multi-stemmed shrub with yellow-green needles that persist for less than 30 years, it is well-adapted to harsh high-elevation alpine environments. The needles grow in dense clusters, creating a robust and resilient form that can withstand extreme mountain conditions. This distinctive pine is a notable component of the high-altitude subalpine forest ecosystem in the southern Sierra Nevada.

Habitat: Subalpine forest

Elevation: 2700-3700 m

Bioregions: s SNH.

California counties: Tulare, Inyo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.