Shore Pine

Pinus contorta var. contorta (Pinaceae) is the coastal variety of lodgepole pine, native to a narrow strip from Alaska to northern California along the immediate coast. It grows 40 to 50 feet tall, often developing the twisted, windswept form for which the species is named. It is typically shorter and more compact than the inland variety.

Shore pine tolerates salt spray, sandy soils, and exposure to coastal winds. It is more adaptable to lowland garden conditions than the inland variety. It serves well as a windbreak or screen in coastal settings. Hardy in Zones 7a to 8b.