Pinus edulis

pinyon pine

Pinyon pine is a widely distributed pine that grows in the Intermountain region of  western North America. It is a major indicator tree in the pinyon-juniper life zone.  P. edulis is a short and scrubby tree that rarely reaches heights taller than 35 feet. Growth is very slow and trees with with diameters of 4 to 6 inches can be several hundred years old. It typically grows either in pure stands or with  juniper. The chunky little cones produce a well-know and tasty nut. The wood is very fragrant when burned. 

 
Photos  by Steve Nix / VT Dendrology 

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Quick Stats
Common Names:  Arizona pijn, Arizona pine, Arizona-tall, Colorado pijn, Colorado pine, Colorado pinyon, foxtail pine, nut pine, pin d'Arizona, pinien-nussbaum, pino di Colorado, pinon, pinyon, pinyon Colorado, two leaf pinyon, two needle pinyon.

Habitat:  Pinyon is native to the southern Rocky Mountain region, predominantly in the foothills, from Colorado and Utah south to central Arizona and southern New Mexico. Also locally in southwestern Wyoming, extreme northwestern Oklahoma, the Trans-Pecos area of Texas, southeastern California and northwestern Mexico (Chihuahua).

Description: Pinyon trees reach heights of 10 to 51 feet, with diameters of 6 to 30 inches, depending on site conditions. An exceptionally large specimen was recorded at 69 feet tall, with a diameter of over 5 feet. Pinyons generally are small trees, growing less than 35 feet tall, with diameters less than 18 inches. Pinyons are long lived, growing for 75 to 200 years, with dominant trees being 400 years old. Pinyons 800 to 1,000 years old have been recorded.

Fire Effects On Pinyon Pine
(courtesy of  U.S. Forest Service, Fire Effects) 

From Virginia Tech w/Photos
(Big List courtesy of VT Dendrology) 

Species Documentation and Data
(The BEST conifer data on the Internet,  Gymnosperm Database, Editor C. J. Earle)

North American Timber Types
(courtesy About Forestry) 

The Great American Coniferous Forest
(courtesy About Forestry)

Pine Images
(courtesy of  ForestryImages.org)