Coulter Pine is a large pine tree that is fairly common in many parts of the foothills, such as along fire roads, in chaparral, and also at higher elevations. It is best known for its huge , sometimes called “widow-makers” because of their weight and the long, sharp spines that stick out in all directions. The hefty cones and very long needles in bundles of 3 make identification easy.

Leaves: The needles are in bundles of 3. They are up to 12 or 14 inches long, the longest of our local pines. The seed cone of this tree is the heaviest of any pine in the world; it weighs up to 5 pounds and is about 12 inches long. The scales of these cones have very substantial, sharp tips that point outward and make it difficult, if not painful, to pick them up. The cones take 2 years to mature and may remain on the tree for several years.

The Coulter Pines that grow in chaparral often have cones that are sealed shut, often for many years, until the heat of a fire softens the coating and allows the cone scales to open and release the very large seeds. There are two seeds, often called pine nuts, under each scale of the cone.

are much smaller, up to 1 inch long and 1/4 inch wide. They grow in dense clusters near the tips of the branches, where that they release is easily blown in the wind. They are soft and papery, with a warm orange or brownish color. Coulter Pine grows between 2,500 and 7,000 feet in elevation in the foothills and mountains, in chaparral, oak woodland, and mixed forest. It is our lowest elevation pine, but many of the trees in the San Gabriel foothills, especially those along roads, were planted. Naturally-occurring Coulter Pines are more common at higher elevations. This tree is found in California’s and the and , as well as . Seven other pines grow in the San Gabriel Mountains. Coulter Pine is fairly easy to distinguish because of its very long needles in bundles of 3 and its extremely large, heavy cones. This large conifer is well adapted to our dry summers and seems to be able to withstand our air pollution. Give it space in the garden and allow for its heavy cones to fall without injuring people beneath it.
Full sun.
Needs regular water in the growing season, but none in summer.
Prefers well-drained soil.
Coulter pine nuts are eaten by Steller's Jays and, at higher elevations, by Clark's Woodpeckers and White-headed Woodpeckers. In chaparral, the cones of Coulter Pine tend to remain closed until the heat of a fire releases them. Although the tree does not survive the fire, its seeds are available to with the first rains. Cones of Coulter Pines in the pine forests at higher elevations, which are less prone to fires, generally do not wait for a fire to release their seeds. Pinus is the Latin name for pine; coulteri honors Thomas Coulter (1793-1843), an Irish botanist who collected plants in California and Mexico and was the first European to discover this tree.