Knobcone Pine
Pinus attenuata
Pinaceae · coniferous tree · native
Last updated
Data Maturity Structured
This profile synthesizes data from multiple published sources. Expert field review is in progress.
Pinus attenuata (Pinaceae) is a three-needled pine native to the mountains of Oregon and California south into Baja California. It grows 30 to 50 feet tall with an irregular, often asymmetric crown. The distinctive knobby, serotinous cones remain closed on the tree for years, opening to release seeds after fire.
Knobcone pine is a fire-adapted pioneer species that colonizes burned slopes and poor soils. It requires full sun and well-drained conditions. The species is short-lived compared to most pines. It is rarely planted as an ornamental. Hardy in Zones 7a to 8b.
Quick Facts
Height
30-50 ft
Light
Full Sun
Hardiness
Zone Zones 7a–8b
Origin
Pacific Northwest native
Diseases (24)
Endocronartium harknessii Western Gall Rust Cronartium ribicola White Pine Blister Rust Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Lophodermium spp. Lophodermium Needle Cast Lophodermella concolor Lophodermella Needle Cast Elytroderma deformans Elytroderma Needle Cast Arceuthobium spp. (parasitic plant) Dwarf Mistletoe Armillaria ostoyae Armillaria Root Rot Symptom category — not a single disease Canker Cyclaneusma minus Cyclaneusma Needle Cast Several soilborne Damping-off Dothistroma septosporum (and/or D Dothistroma Needle Blight (Red Band) Gray Mold Heterobasidion annosum Heterobasidion Root Disease In most Hypocotyl Rot and Root Rot Davisomycella medusa Medusa Needle Blight Rhabdocline spp. including R Needle Cast Needle Rusts Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Pine Wilt Excess sodium chloride Salt Damage Sirococcus conigenus Sirococcus Shoot Blight Fomitopsis officinalis, Porodaedalea pini, and other wood... Stem Decay Diaporthe vaccinii or Diplodia tip blight agents Tip Blight Diaporthe vaccinii Twig Blight
Pests (23)
Eriophyidae Eriophyid mite Pineus strobi Pine bark adelgid Dioryctria spp. Coneworm Pine Aphid Pissodes strobi White pine weevil Tetranychidae Spider mite Synanthedon sequoiae Sequoia pitch moth Pine Needle Sheathminer Pine Sheath Miner Chionaspis pinifoliae Pine needle scale Pine Butterfly Coloradia pandora Pandora moth Dendroctonus ponderosae Mountain pine beetle Rhyacionia buoliana European pine shoot moth Nuculaspis californica Black pineleaf scale Coneworm and shoot moth Cinara spp. Giant conifer aphid Zelleria haimbachi Pine needle sheathminer Neodiprion spp. Pine sawfly Neophasia menapia Pine white butterfly Eulachnus agilis Powdery pine needle aphid Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Schizolachnus piniradiatae Woolly pine needle aphid Pine sheath miner