Two-needle piñon Pinus edulis
Two-needle piñon (Pinus edulis) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Pinaceae family, native to Colorado Plateau and southern Rockies (piñon–juniper woodland). It grows 5–10 m (16–33 ft) tall and 4–8 m (13–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -32 °C (-26 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Plan Two-needle piñon in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Two-needle piñon at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Mature height | 5–10 m (16–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -32 °C (-26 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: pine nuts |
| Native to | Colorado Plateau and southern Rockies (piñon–juniper woodland) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Two-needle piñon toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Two-needle piñon
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Two-needle piñon in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Denver Botanic Gardens (3 plants)
Questions about Two-needle piñon
- How far apart should I plant Two-needle piñon?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–8 m (13–26 ft).
- Does Two-needle piñon need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Two-needle piñon need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Two-needle piñon?
- It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
- Is Two-needle piñon poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Two-needle piñon?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Two-needle piñon. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
- Plants of the national parks (Saguaro, Joshua Tree, Redwood), US National Park Service
Notes and assumptions
- Very slow and drought-adapted; New Mexico state tree; pine nuts were a staple food.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Colorado blue spruce Picea pungens
- Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii
- Eastern white pine Pinus strobus
- Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
- Norway spruce Picea abies
- Siberian larch Larix sibirica
- Lacebark pine Pinus bungeana