California Foothill Pine
Pinus sabiniana
- Native to:
- United States
Eric in SF
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- Pinus sabiniana
- USDA Symbol:
- PISA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Chionodes sabinianae, Mimosa webworm (Exoteleia burkei), Petrova sabiniana
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, squirrels
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides fire resistance in mature trees. Resprouts poorly but survives moderate surface fires. Fire maintains open woodland structure.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in foothill regions with poor soil fertility.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification. Large seeds may be direct sown in fall for natural stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 45 days.
Establishment: P. sabiniana is found from in the foothills of the Cascades and Sierras and coast ranges of California south into lower California. Germination was found to be greater in light than dark.
Source: npn.rngr.net