Pine Nuts

Big Cone – Pitch Pine

– Pinus coulteri. Largest cone of any pine bearing good, edible nuts. Fairly fast growing, wide branching, attractive tree is heat and drought tolerant. Grows 40-80 feet. Native to California mountains. Hardy to Western Washington; Zone 7

Digger Pine

Pinus sabiniana. Open, irregular tea grows quickly 40-80 feet tall. Lacy 9-12 inch pale blueish green needles in clusters of three. Oval 6-10 inch cones contain large edible nuts. Drought resistant. Stape food for the California Indias. Also used to produce turpentine. Native to dry areas in California. Hardy in Zone 7.

Korean Pine

Korean white pine. Pinus koraiensis. Well formed, pyramidal tree grows 60-90 feet tall with a 30-40 foot spread; has been known to reach 150 feet tall. Small branches are yellowish brown and fuzzy. Dark green 4 inch needles in groups of five. Conic-oblong 6 inch cones contain edible nuts. Needs a well drained to moist soil. Very hardy even into Zone 3, but slow growing in cold northern areas. Life span of 80 or more years. Native from southeast Siberia to northern japan and korea.

Swiss Moutain Pine

Pinus uncinata. Bushy conical tree; needles and density similar to P. Mugo but more tree like. Sweet edible nuts. Needs full sun and good drainage. Hardy to -30 F.

Korean Stone Pine

Pinus Koraiensis. Slow growing pyramidal tree; similar to Swiss stone pine (P. Cembra) but more open branched. Green 2-4 inch needles with blue undersides in clusters of five. Should bear pine nuts in 6-10 years. Resists white pine blister rust. Hardy in zone 5. Native to eastern Asia.

Italian Stone Pine

Pinus Pinea. Picturesque, slow growing, seaside pine with dense umbrella like branches, usually 45-75 feet tall; broad, flat topped crown at maturity. Long stiff 6-8 inch bright green needles in cluster of two. Oval 5 inch cones contain large, sweet, edible seeds (pignola nuts) Zones 7-9. Native to the northern Mediterranean region. Considered sacred to Neptune by the ancient Greeks.