Open-grown trees have spreading crowns and horizontal or upcurved branches that can extend nearly to the ground. North Main Divide Road and Ortega Highway, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-17-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Coulter Pine

Pinus coulteri

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North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

A medium-sized, single-trunked, erect, tree 30-85 ft. in height, and 12-30 in. diameter. Occasional to frequent on harsh, dry, south-facing slopes in open pine forests, mixed Bigcone Douglas-fir/Canyon live oak woodland, and chaparral, mostly above 2,400 ft. in the Santa Ana Mountains. A few scattered trees at lower elevations, probably naturalized, in San Juan Canyon (Roberts). It is a short-lived species with an average lifespan of 100 yrs. 


Eastwood Manzanita in foreground, Bigcone Douglas-fir to right. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Joan Avise.

Long upcurved branches. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Joan Avise.

Bark, left, on mature trees is thick and fissured with yellowish plates.  Woodpeckers often forage for insects under the bark on these trees. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Joan Avise.

Crown broad, irregular. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Joan Avise.

The stout gray-green leaves are 8 to 16 in. long, in bundles of 3; they persist 3-4 yrs. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Joan Avise.

As in all pines, needle bundles are subtended by tiny brown scales that represent the vestigial leaf (Clarke). North Main Divide Road and Ortega Highway, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-17-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female cones with developing seeds are small and scaly, growing near the tips of new growth in spring, eventually turning green, then yellowish-brown.  North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

After two years, at maturity, large, spiny,  female cones are 10 to 14 in. long, persistent, stiff, often in whorls of 4; weight 4-10 lbs when fresh. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

The most massive cones of any pine tree species.  Cone scales have large, sharp, recurved "claws".  North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Cones are variably (between individual plants) serotinous. The heat of a fire is necessary to crack the cones' resin seal and allow cone scales to open. Seeds can remain viable inside the closed cones for decades until the heat from fire (from which the seeds are protected by the thick heavy scales) causes the cones to open.  After the fire has passed, the seeds are released onto a fertile bed of ash.  Thus fire suppression can hamper regeneration of Coulter pine.  North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant


This cone is 11.5 inches long. The cone (presumably from individuals that are not serotinous) starts to open slowly in the 2nd or 3rd year, shedding seeds over many years as it stays attached to the tree. There are two seeds protected by each thick woody scale.  The darker reddish areas beneath the scales are where some seeds are still in place.  Seven Oaks, San Bernardino Co., CA. 2-11-12. © Joan Avise.


Seeds are presumably dispersed in part by wind, judging by the large wings.  The seed, with a very hard coat, plus the wing measures 1 5/8 in. and is surprisingly heavy.   Seven Oaks, San Bernardino Co., CA. 2-11-12. © Joan Avise.

Coulter pine growing in association with coast live oaks are non-serotinous. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant


North Main Divide, to Long Cyn Rd., 3-18-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.


Indian Truck Trail, 5-19-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Hwy 74 to Santiago Pk, 1-1-10. © Ron Vanderhoff.