Pinus radiata
Common name: 
Monterey Pine
Pronunciation: 
PI-nus ra-dee-AH-ta
Family: 
Pinaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Conifer, evergreen tree, fast growing, may reach 50-100 ft (15-30 m) tall and a trunk diameter of 60-90 cm, the trunk my be contorted to straight, crown is broadly conic, becoming rounded to flattened with age.  Bark gray to reddish-brown, deeply V-furrowed.  Leaves (needles) either 2 (var. binata) or more commonly 3 per bundle, 9-15 cm long and a little less than 2 mm wide, slightly twisted, deep yellow-green, all surfaces with fine stomatal lines, margins serrulate, bundle sheath 1.5-2 cm long, base persistent.  Seed cones ovoid before opening, broadly ovoid when open, 7-15 cm long, yellow-brown, lustrous, numerous, solitary to whorled, spreading to recurved scales rigid, may persistent for many years, 6-20 or more years.  Seeds compressed-ellipsoid; body about. 6 mm, dark brown; wing 20-30 mm.
  • Sun or light shade
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8      Has low frost tolerance
  •  There are three recognized varieties of Monterey Pine: P. radiata var. radiata, which is the typical variety, P. r. var. binata, which occurs on Guadalupe Island, Mexico, and P. r. var. cedrosensis, found on Cedros Island, Mexico.  The typical variety of Monterey pine occurs along the coast of California in three disjunct populations in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, Monterey County, and San Luis Obispo County.  It has escaped from cultivation along the California coast and shows signs of naturalizing.  It has been introduced as a timber tree in vast areas of New Zealand (where it is the most common tree), Australia, Chile, SW Europe and South Africa.
  • Pinus radiata is similar to Pinus attenuata (Knobcone Pine) and hybridizes with it and Pinus muricata (Bishop Pine).
  • radiata: radiating, lines on the cone scales.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • plant habit, old tree

    plant habit, old tree

  • branches

    branches

  • needles and cone

    needles and cone

  • needle bundle

    needle bundle

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark