40 Types of Pine Trees You Can Actually Grow (2024)

Gardening

Trees

There are so many types suitable for different yards

• 01 of 40

  Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

  

  This fast-growing, long-lived pine is one of the most important pine species in North America, grown both for timber and landscape purposes. It's probably known as the most common type of pine tree since it's a popular choice for a Christmas tree.

  The eastern white pine (sometimes called simply a white pine) is by nature a large tree, but it accepts pruning so readily that it can also be kept trained as a hedge shrub. Smooth gray bark becomes fissured with age.

  This tree does not tolerate pollution as well as some other types of pine trees and so may struggle, when young, if planted as a street tree.

  • Native Area: North America
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
  • Height: 50 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

• 02 of 40

  Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis)

  

  Aleppo pine, sometimes known as Jerusalem pine, is an extremely drought-resistant type of pine tree that is a valuable landscape specimen in hot climates, such as that of southern California.

  This pine tree is identified by its needles, which are a light yellowish-green. In some parts of the world, it is regarded as an invasive species, since it has a habit of taking over areas burned off by fire.

  Aleppo pine is a large tree with a conical open-crowned shape. It works best on large properties where it has room to grow unimpeded.

  • Native Area: Mediterranean region
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10
  • Height: 30 to 60 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 03 of 40

  Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)

  

  This medium- to large-sized conifer transforms from a pyramidal shape to a rounded-top specimen when fully mature. Also known as European black pine, the Austrian pine can be used as a specimen tree in the landscape or for screening purposes, but it is susceptible to a variety of pest and disease problems, especially in the Midwest.

  • Native Area: Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Cyprus, Turkey
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: 40 to 100 feet
  • Exposure: Full sun

• 04 of 40

  Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata)

  

  This slow-growing, long-lived tree native to the southern Rocky Mountains makes a great specimen tree in the landscape, where its small size is perfect. It is a dwarfish species that can be used as a shrub or allowed to grow to small tree sizes.

  The bristlecone may also be called hickory pine or Rocky Mountain bristlecone in some regions.

  • Native Area: Southern mountain regions of North America—Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Height: 8 to 30 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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• 05 of 40

  Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis)

  

  This very large tree gradually develops a parasol-like canopy as it matures. It is a very sturdy, durable tree that tolerates most soil types. However, it does not tolerate cold. It is not a common landscape tree.

  • Native Area: Canary Islands (Spain)
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
  • Height: 50 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 06 of 40

  Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii)

  

  This large type of pine tree native to the Himalayas is not commonly used in the landscape, although it is an attractive tree: Its bunches of long needles give it a fluffy appearance. The chir pine is sometimes known as the Imodi pine.

  • Native Area: Himalayan regions of Asia—Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
  • Height: 60 to 180 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 07 of 40

  Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri)

  

  Coulter pine is a large tree with an irregular crown and very large, heavy cones (useful as an identifying feature). Several common names are associated with it, including big cone pine, nut pine, pitch pine, and slash pine.

  Native to the coastal mountains of California and northern Baja California, Mexico, the Coulter pine grows in all soils including heavy clay but prefers rocky soil at medium altitudes. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens.

  See Also

  Pinus taeda: Loblolly PinePinus taeda LLoblolly PineLoblolly Pine | Glen Arboretum

  • Native Area: California, Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
  • Height: 40 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 08 of 40

  Foxtail Pine (Pinus balfouriana)

  

  This is a rare type of pine tree that is most commonly found at or near the tree line in the Sierra Mountains. It is almost never grown as a landscape tree, but nature lovers find it beautiful when coming across it in natural settings.

  • Native Area: California
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: 20 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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• 09 of 40

  Gray Pine (Pinus sabiniana)

  

  Gray pine is a tall pine with an unusual forked trunk, which is one way you can identify it. The tree is found in the low foothills of the California mountains, but it is rarely planted in landscape applications. The gray pine has several other common names—foothill pine, California foothill pine, bull pine, and digger pine.

  • Native Area: California
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 9
  • Height: 40 to 70 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

• 10 of 40

  Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea)

  

  Italian stone pine is a classic umbrella-shaped pine from the Mediterranean (it is also frequently called an umbrella pine). It has a very attractive form, but it is rarely grown in U.S. landscapes. It has edible pignoli nuts in Mediterranean regions.

  • Native Area: Southern Europe, Lebanon, Turkey
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10
  • Height: 30 to 60 feet tall
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 11 of 40

  Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)

  

  Jack pine (or gray pine) is a somewhat scruffy, shabby-looking pine that is rarely used in landscapes, but its tolerance for poor soils can make it a good choice for windbreaks in rural settings. This slender species produces curved cones.

  • Native Area: Northern U.S., Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Height: 30 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 12 of 40

  Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)

  

  Japanese black pine (also called black pine) is an attractive, conical-shaped pine that can make a good specimen tree in the landscape. It is also sometimes used in bonsai craft. It is regarded as an invasive plant in Pennsylvania and a few other Atlantic coast states.

  • Native Area: Japan, South Korea
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: 20 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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• 13 of 40

  Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora)

  

  Japanese white pine is a medium-sized tree that is a common specimen tree and one of the best types of pine trees for landscaping. As the tree matures, it develops an attractive spreading branch pattern and flat top. This slow-growing conifer has fine, bluish foliage and purplish brown bark. It is a favorite for bonsai enthusiasts.

  • Native Area: Japan, South Korea
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
  • Height: 25 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 14 of 40

  Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)

  

  Jeffrey pine is a very tall but sparse tree that is rarely grown in landscape applications. It has a good tolerance for drought and poor soils. The black bark smells like vanilla and young shoots produce an attractive gray bloom. It is regarded as invasive and undesirable in much of California.

  • Native Area: California, Nevada, Oregon, Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
  • Height: 80 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 15 of 40

  Lacebark Pine (Pinus bungeana)

  

  This tree has an exfoliating bark that looks similar to that of the sycamore. It grows quite slowly, taking 50 years to reach a mature height of 50 feet. Its attractive bark makes it a favorite landscape specimen.

  • Native Area: China
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Height: 30 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 16 of 40

  Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)

  

  Limber pine is a highly adaptable tree that does well in difficult soils. When planted in landscapes, it is used for challenging conditions, such as poor soil.

  • Native Area: U.S., Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
  • Height: 30 to 60 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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• 17 of 40

  Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

  

  Loblolly pine is naturally found in swampy areas in the Southeast, and its landscape uses are mostly confined to that region for damp, boggy soil conditions. It has a very straight trunk, and as it ages, the tree loses lower branches so that the crown towers far above the ground.

  • Native Area: U.S.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
  • Height: 50 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 18 of 40

  Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)

  

  Depending on the subspecies and variety, the lodgepole pine is a shrub or tree. As the botanical name contorta hints, the trunks on the tree tend to be twisted and contorted. This species is well suited to windy, barren sites and tolerates waterlogged ground. It would be an effective landscape tree on properties plagued by such challenges.

  Lodgepole pine is a widely distributed pine that goes by many different common names in different regions, including beach pine, shore pine, coast pine, Bolander pine, Sierra lodgepole pine, tamarack pine, Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine, and black pine.

  • Native Area: North America
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
  • Height: 15 to 50 feet, depending on subspecies
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 19 of 40

  Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

  

  Longleaf pine is a very tall, upright tree with a straight trunk. This type of pine tree has long needles that are 8 to 18 inches long and is the source of its common name. Crafts enthusiasts make use of both the needles and the cones.Longleaf pine makes for an attractive landscape tree when mature, having a nice, reddish-brown bark studded with paper-like scales.Longleaf pine has a slow growth rate, however.

  • Native Area: Southern U.S.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
  • Height: 60 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 20 of 40

  Luchu Pine (Pinus luchuensis)

  

  This large type of pine tree with angled branches and a flat crown is a rare tree, originally found only in Okinawa. Other common names include Ryuku Island pine and old-style pine. It can be a good tree for shoreline landscapes.

  • Native Area: Okinawa, Japan
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
  • Height: 50 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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  See Also

  Loblolly Pine

• 21 of 40

  Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster)

  

  Maritime pine's attractive upswept branches and conical crown make it valuable as a landscape specimen. This species is well-suited to dry, sandy soil. It is also known as cluster pine or French turpentine pine.

  • Native Area: Southern Europe, Morocco
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
  • Height: 60 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 22 of 40

  Mexican Weeping Pine (Pinus patula)

  

  This striking pine has drooping tufts of needles that give the tree a weeping appearance. A native of Mexico, this tree (also known as jelecote pine or patula pine) makes a unique specimen when planted as a landscape tree.

  • Native Area: Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 9
  • Height: 60 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 23 of 40

  Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)

  

  Monterey pine (sometimes called radiata pine) is a large-bodied tree with a thick trunk and branches. This fast-growing conifer matures from a conical shape to a domed top. Black bark contrasts with bright green leaves. It is a very versatile species with commercial uses as well as common landscape uses. It's native to the foggy coastal areas of California. Monterey pine makes an excellent windbreak.

  • Native Area: California, Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
  • Height: 50 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 24 of 40

  Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)

  

  Mugo pine is a dwarf, creeping shrub or small tree with hard, heavy branches. It makes an interesting shrub specimen in the landscape, where it can function as a ground cover.

  When planted in mass, it can serve to hold soil and prevent erosion. Be sure to read the tag for height information if you are looking for the dwarf kind. Dwarf kinds are 'Compacta,' 'Gnome,' 'Hesse,' var. mugo, and var. pumilo.

  • Native Area: Europe
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Height: 3 to 6 feet as a shrub; 10 to 25 feet as a small tree (depends on variety)
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

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• 25 of 40

  Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)

  

  Pitch pine is so-called because it exudes a lot of pine resin. Keep this in mind if you want low-maintenance landscaping. as pitch pine isn't for you.

  You'll have to clean off all that pitch after it coats your car windshield, deck, or porch. Moreover, its crooked growth habit and somewhat shabby overall appearance give it little usefulness as a landscape specimen.

  • Native Area: Eastern U.S., Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
  • Height: 50 to 100 feet tall
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 26 of 40

  Pond Pine (Pinus serotina)

  

  Pond pine is a species known to hold its seed cones closed for many years, opening them only after a fire has scorched them. Older trees become thin and ragged, so pond pine isn't highly valued as a landscape tree. This species is sometimes known as marsh pine, bay pine, or pocosin pine.

  • Native Area: Eastern U.S.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
  • Height: 30 to 70 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 27 of 40

  Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

  

  The immense size and large, straight, thick trunks have made the Ponderosa pine prized as an ornamental specimen in parks and large landscapes. It is also grown for its distinctive deeply fissured bark. This tree also goes by the common names western yellow pine, bull pine, black Jack, western red pine, and western longleaf pine.

  • Native Area: U.S., British Columbia, Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: 60 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 28 of 40

  Red Pine, Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa)

  

  The red pine, also known as the Norway pine or Canadian pine, is a tall, straight tree with a conical crown that becomes rounded with age. It makes a good landscape specimen plant in the northern part of its range, zones 2 to 5.

  • Native Area: Northern U.S., Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
  • Height: 50 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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  Sand Pine (Pinus clausa)

  

  As the name implies, sand pines prefer sandy, well-drained soils. Young trees are sometimes farmed as Christmas trees. They are medium-sized pines that do well in shady conditions, which suggests a possible landscape use: for a planting in shaded areas where other trees would perform poorly. Some types have serotinous cones, which require fire before they will open and expel their seeds. Sand pines are also called scrub pines.

  • Native Area: Southern U.S.—Alabama and Florida
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
  • Height: 15 to 60 feet; occasionally up to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 30 of 40

  Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

  

  Scots pine (incorrectly known as Scotch pine) is a fast-growing, medium-sized tree with a conical or column-shaped habit and distinctive flaking brown-red bark. It makes a good Christmas tree. Smaller dwarf varieties make some of the best types of pine trees for landscaping. Plant in a protected site as this species is susceptible to wind damage.

  • Native Area: Europe, Asia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Height: 20 to 30 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 31 of 40

  Single-Leaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)

  

  Single-leaf pinyon pine is a small- to medium-sized tree with flaking bark. In some regions, it is used as a Christmas tree. It is difficult to propagate, so it isn't widely available in the nursery trade. However, if you can find one, its attractive bark adds interest in landscape plantings.

  • Native Area: Western U.S., Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Height: 15 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 32 of 40

  Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)

  

  Sugar pine​ ​is the tallest of all pine trees. Not only that, but it boasts the longest cones—nearly 2 feet in length. Its sheer size (it is also called giant pine) makes this tree impractical for landscape use unless you own a large property.

  • Native Area: California, Nevada, Oregon, Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 7
  • Height: 100 to 200 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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  Tanyosho Pine (Pinus densiflora)

  

  Pinus densiflora is the most common of all pine trees native to Japan. If you have a small yard and want to grow one as a shrub or small tree, plant the dwarf cultivar, 'Umbraculifera.' It is often used in foundation plantings and is sometimes grown by bonsai enthusiasts. The species may also be called by the common names umbrella pine or tabletop pine.

  • Native Area: Asia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Height: 12 to 20 feet (for the dwarf cultivar)
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 34 of 40

  Tenasserim Pine (Pinus latteri)

  

  Tenasserim pine is a medium- to large-sized tree with orange-red bark. It is closely related to the Aleppo pine. The crown of the tree gradually becomes rounded as the tree ages. It is sometimes planted as a landscape specimen tree in warm climates.

  • Native Area: Southeast Asia—Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10
  • Height: 80 to 150 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 35 of 40

  Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyanna)

  

  Torrey pine is a rare species, found only in the coastal sage and chaparral areas of southern California. It has a broad, open-crowned growth habit that becomes twisted in fantastic shapes by coastal winds. Where it appears, the Torrey pine is usually protected by law. It is also sometimes known as the Del Mar pine or Soledad pine. This unusual specimen is well-suited to seaside areas that don't get too cold.

  • Native Area: Southern California
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10
  • Height: 25 to 60 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 36 of 40

  Turkish Pine (Pinus brutia)

  

  Turkish pine is a very popular ornamental tree for warm climates. Several cultivars are available with a remarkable tolerance for heat and drought. It has attractive, deeply fissured red-brown bark.

  • Native Area: Western Asia—Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 11
  • Height: 30 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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  Two-Needle Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis)

  

  Two-needle pinyon (sometimes called simply pinyon pine) is a small- to medium-sized pine with furrowed and scaly bark. It bears edible pine nuts. It is sometimes planted as a landscape specimen tree and can be farmed as a Christmas tree.

  • Native Area: Western/Central U.S., Mexico
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: Up to 20 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 38 of 40

  Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

  

  This tree is a small- to medium-sized specimen and is a good choice for providing a winter accent to the landscape. Young shoots bear a pinkish-white bloom. Some cultivars turn an attractive yellow-gold in winter. It makes a good Christmas tree. It is also known as Jersey pine, spruce pine, and Virginia scrub pine.

  • Native Area: Eastern U.S.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Height: 10 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

• 39 of 40

  Western White Pine (Pinus monticola)

  

  Western white pine is related to the eastern white pine and is one of the largest of the pines, occasionally reaching 150 feet. It is too large to be commonly used in landscaping, but in its native habitat (the northern states of the Pacific Northwest), the tree can be found in the mountains and at sea level. Regionally, it may be known as the mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine.

  • Native Area: Western U.S., Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
  • Height: 60 to 150 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

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  Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)

  

  Whitebark pine is closely related to the limber pine, and, like that tree, the whitebark thrives at high elevations near the tree line. A scrubby tree, it is rarely used in landscape plantings. This type of pine tree is a threatened species in its native range.

  • Native Area: Western U.S., Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Height: 20 to 60 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun