The Canary Island pine, the most widely cultivated pine in all of California, can be identified by its long graceful needles bundled in threes, its narrowly upright growth, its somewhat pendulous branches, and its rough, deeply fissured, reddish brown bark. The female cones are shiny brown with a blunt projection at the tip of each scale, and the smaller, ephemeral, male cones are responsible for the yellow clouds of allergenic pollen wafting through the air in late spring. This species has the ability to sprout new shoots from dormant buds under the bark (called epicormic sprouting), usually after some kind of damage like a fire. Some cultivated trees produce these bluish gray, waxy (glaucous) juvenile shoots even in the absence of any apparent injury; look for them on the lower trunk.

Native Range: Canary Islands

Ethnobotanical Info / Tree Use: Citations Page

Schoolyard Use: This tree has long, slender needles that can be used to teach about needle-like leaf adaptations in dry environments. Its tall, straight trunk makes it a good example for lessons on tree growth and wood structure. The cones are large and woody, providing material for discussions on seed dispersal and reproduction. The tree’s resilience to drought conditions can be highlighted in lessons about climate adaptation.

Tree Shape: Columnar or Conical
Foliage Type: Evergreen
Maximum Tree Height: 80 feet
Canopy Width: 20-35feet
Growth Rate: ~36in/year
Leaf Arrangement and Form: Alternate and Simple
Leaf Shape: Needle
Leaf Color: Bluish Green, Silver or Gray Green
Fall Color: No
Cone Size and Color: Very Large Brown Cone
Pollen time: Winter
Bark Color: Red Brown
Bark Texture: Fissured
Litter Type: Dry Fruit

Recommended Planting Area: 4′ to 7′
Water Use Rating: Medium
Sunset Climate Zone: 8 – 9 and 12 – 24
Soil Texture: Loam or Sand
Soil pH: Very Acidic to Very Alkaline
Salt Tolerance: High
Schoolyard Trees: Yes
Shade Tolerance: No

Branch Strength: Medium
Root Damage Potential: Moderate
Potential health issues: Allergy
Biogenic Emissions: Moderate
Wildlife Interactions: Attracts Birds and Squirrels
Disease and Pest Susceptibility: Armillaria, Phytophthora, Root Rot, Sooty Mold, Aphids, Beetle Borers and Spider Mites
Disease and Pest Resistance: Verticillium
Utility Friendly: No