Pinus radiata
Monterey pine
(c) Jeremy Gilmore, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jeremy Gilmore · licence
Family: Pinaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) is a native California tree in the Pinaceae family.
Monterey pine is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in the central coastal regions near Point Año Nuevo, Monterey Peninsula, and Cambria-San Simeon area in closed-cone pine forest and oak woodland at elevations below 1,300 meters. With a distinctive growth pattern producing up to 2 meters of height per year in its youth, this pine develops a mature crown that is irregular and round-topped with a black, deeply grooved bark. Growing with (2)3 dark green needles per bundle reaching 6 to 15 centimeters long, the tree has persistent needle sheaths and develops asymmetric seed cones 6 to 15 centimeters long that open slowly in their second year. Its mature form features a trunk less than 38 meters tall and less than 2.1 meters wide, with seed cones that remain persistent for less than 25 years and have rounded scale tip knobs. The tree's light brown cones have small proximal scale tip knobs less than 2 centimeters long and minutely prickled surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated in three small coastal populations
Habitat and range
Habitat: Closed-cone-pine forest, oak woodland
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Monterey, Orange, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Francisco, Marin, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Contra Costa, Butte, Sonoma, Alameda, Santa Clara, Humboldt, El Dorado, Amador, Napa, San Diego
Outside California: islands off Baja California, naturalized? where escaped or introduced southern Oregon, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Pseudotsuga: Pine needles come bundled in groups with papery sheaths; Douglas-fir needles attach individually to smooth twigs.; vs Abies: Pine needles come bundled in groups of 2-5; fir needles attach individually and directly to twigs.; vs Sequoia: Pine has bundled needles in groups of 2-5; redwood has individual scale-like or awl-shaped leaves on flat sprays.; vs Casuarina: Pine has true needles bundled in groups; Casuarina has jointed branchlets with whorls of tiny scale leaves.; vs Cedrus: Pine needles are bundled in tight clusters of 2-5; cedar needles grow in dense rosette-like clusters on short shoots.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pinus radiata native to California?
Yes. Pinus radiata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Pinus radiata grow?
Pinus radiata occurs in Monterey, Orange, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Pinus radiata belong to?
Pinus radiata is in the Pinaceae family, genus Pinus.
Is Pinus radiata rare or endangered?
Pinus radiata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Pinus radiata grow in?
Pinus radiata grows in Closed-cone-pine forest, oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.