Southwestern White Pine
Pinus strobiformis
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
rmgs (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- Pinus strobiformis
- USDA Symbol:
- PIST3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
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
pea moth (Cydia nigricana)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Mature trees have moderately thick bark providing some fire resistance; can resprout from basal buds after low-intensity fire.
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:
- native to mountainous regions with variable soil types
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best after cold stratification; light not required but consistent moisture helps.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are removed from storage and soaked in room temperature water for 12-18 hours, then placed in self-sealing, polyethylene bags and stratified for 45 days at temperatures of 2-4°C (35.6-39.2°F).
Establishment: Seeds are collected from entire cones harvested by hand from trees in mid- to late September. The species is native to south central Arizona and New Mexico, and extends southward along the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico.
Source: npn.rngr.net