Full sun; a large evergreen pine, with a rounded canopy and warm yellowish-green leaves produced in pairs, often with multiple trunks. It tolerates hot, dry, alkaline soils with a relatively fast growth rate. Deep freezes can damage the crown on younger plants, giving a gnarled appearance.
Names like “Freeway Pine” describe its ability to survive without irrigation in California; it is considered invasive in South Africa and Australia. It prefers 15-30 inches of rainfall per year.
Dry leaf litter could be a considered a hazard in areas subject to wildfire.
Pruning is always optional. Focus on minimizing dead, damaged, or rubbing branches. Only make cuts at a bud or branch. Remove no more than 25% of the total canopy during any five-year cycle. Never remove more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period: on a 12-foot tree, stick to the lowest 4 feet. Mulch with about 2” of woodchips or pine bark wherever possible. (A tree’s mulched area should be six feet at minimum.)
A mid-sized pine with a moderate growth rate.
