# gray pine (*Pinus sabiniana*) The gray pine is a tall tree with long, slender needles that can be grayish-green. It grows in sunny places and provides shade for animals and people alike. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![gray pine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pinus_sabiniana.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinus_sabiniana.jpg) ## Appearance The gray pine has a distinctive open, sparse canopy with long, grayish-green needles grouped in threes. Its bark is thick and deeply furrowed, appearing gray to dark brown. It is most recognizable by its exceptionally large, heavy cones, which can be up to 30 cm long. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## Interesting facts - Its massive cones are the largest of any pine native to California, weighing up to 2 kg! - Native Americans used the gray pine's sap as glue and medicine, and its needles for baskets! - The gray pine is sometimes called 'digger pine' because people used to dig up its tasty nuts. - This hardy tree can live for over 100 years, standing tall through many tough seasons! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** Gray pine can grow in very dry, rocky soil by sending super-long roots deep down to find hidden water! - **Giant Seed Spreader:** Gray pine has enormous, tasty seeds inside its cones that help animals spread new pine trees far and wide. - **Fire Shield Bark:** Gray pine has incredibly thick, protective bark that helps it survive even intense forest fires. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 900-2000 cm - **Spread:** 400-1000 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — Feasts on the large pine nuts - **Eats:** [California Scrub-Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-scrub-jay) (*Aphelocoma californica*) — Consumes and helps disperse seeds - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses young seedlings and shoots - **Parasitizes:** Western Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus brevicomis*) — Bores into bark, weakening the tree ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring near trees and watch for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify gray pine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is gray pine? 900-2000 cm ### How wide does gray pine spread? 400-1000 cm ### When does gray pine bloom? Spring ### Is gray pine edible? Yes ### Is gray pine toxic? None ### What is gray pine's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is gray pine pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Lake Oroville State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-oroville-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [San Joaquin Experimental Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-joaquin-experimental-range) — California, US · Forest - [Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marshall-gold-discovery-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see gray pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gray-pine) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Gray Pine: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-pine)