Pinus torreyana

Island torrey pine

Family: Pinaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Island torrey pine is a California native shrub found in coastal regions with limited natural distribution, typically growing near ocean environments at elevations close to sea level. Flowering time not specified, this distinctive pine produces grayish-yellow to gray-blue-green needles arranged in clusters of five, creating a soft, textured appearance. Growing as a relatively small tree with mature trunks reaching up to 23 meters tall, it develops an open, rounded crown with many large branches and distinctive red-brown bark with irregular furrows. Its needles are notably stiff, measuring 15 to 26 centimeters long, with persistent sheaths that contribute to the plant's rugged character. The seed cones are spreading or recurved, less than 16 centimeters long, with dark brown scales that open slowly in the third year and remain on the tree for up to 15 years.

California counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Marin, Alameda, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Monterey

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