Sugar Pine

Sugar pine is the giant of western pines, reaching 200 feet with long, slender branches and cones up to 20 inches long. Named for the sweet resin that can be chewed, this tree is native to the cool, moist mountains of Oregon and California, where it grows in mixed coniferous stands. You see it occasionally in larger Puget Sound gardens where space permits; its immense crown and slow growth demand patience and room.

Sugar pine thrives in full sun to part shade with cool, moist, well-drained soil and a long growing season. The Puget Sound region provides adequate moisture, but summers should be cool; success increases at higher elevations. White pine blister rust is the major threat, requiring either resistant cultivars or careful fungicide management in susceptible areas. The tree grows relatively fast initially (40 feet in 20 years) but demands protection from pests and disease. Its size limits use to spacious rural properties where form and wildlife value justify the challenge.