These endangered pines are found in the wild in only two small regions of the
west coast of California.
Identification: Trees are 49-75′ (15-23 m) tall, typically crooked and irregular
in shape because of winds from the ocean. Bark is red-brown to purple-red, and deeply furrowed.
Needles, usually five per group, are typically 8-12″ (20-30 cm) long × 1/16″ (2 mm), dark green, sometimes slightly twisted. Cones are heavy, oval or nearly round, 4-6″ (10-15 cm) long, and yellow- to red-brown.
For further information, see the Pinus comparison tables.
2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California
2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California · ≈ 3 × 2′ (98 × 65 cm)
Rachel McCarty, a horticulturist at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, explains that this is a “witch’s broom," a genetic or viral anomaly or some other abnormal response. · 2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California
2/26/2010 · Torrey Pines State Park, La Jolla, California · ≈ 5 × 3½′ (1.6 × 1 m)
Pinus torreyana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.