Sugar Pine

Pinus lambertiana

Pinaceae · coniferous tree · native

Last updated May 11, 2026

Pinus lambertiana (Pinaceae) is the tallest pine species in the world, reaching 200 feet or more. It is a five-needled pine native to the mountains of Oregon and California south to Baja California. The pendulous cones are also the longest of any pine, reaching 12 to 26 inches. The bark becomes thick and deeply furrowed with age, arranged in irregular plates.

Sugar pine grows in full sun on well-drained mountain soils. The common name refers to the sweet, edible resin. Like all North American five-needled pines, it is highly susceptible to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), which has devastated populations throughout its range. The species is also threatened by mountain pine beetle. Hardy in Zones 6a to 8b.

Quick Facts

Height

200 ft

Growth Rate

Fast

Light

Sun to Part Shade

Soil

Well Drained

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 6a–8b

Origin

Pacific Northwest native

Damping-offHigh

Spring Sowing - Preemergence Damping-off Risk

Twig BlightHigh

Spring Spore Release

Eriophyid miteHigh

Spring Dispersal & Bud Invasion

Pine needle scaleHigh

Crawler Emergence

+ 4 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Phenological Calendar

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Candle elongation BBCH 11	Feb 15-Mar 15	Pale, elongating shoots (candles) covered in papery scale leaves. Five needles per fascicle emerge as candle extends
Pollen release BBCH 61	Mar 15-May 15	Male strobili usually clustered at base of current year's candles; pollen visible
Pollen shed complete BBCH 69	Apr 15-May 31	Female conelets (small, reddish or purple) visible at shoot tips after pollination
Cone development (year 1-2) BBCH 71	Mar 15-May 31	Cones elongate very large. Five-needle fascicles characteristic. Enormous cones 25-50 cm (largest of any pine). Mature over second year
Cone maturity and seed shed BBCH 85	Jun 1-Aug 31	Huge woody cones 25-50 cm long (largest of any pine!); scales spread to release winged seeds

Diseases: Regionally Documented (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 spp. — primarily A 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 occidentale Otrosina & Garbel 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 Multiple fungal species cause twig blight on different ho... Twig Blight

Pests: Regionally Documented (18)

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 Neodiprion spp. Pine sawfly Eulachnus agilis Powdery pine needle aphid Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Schizolachnus piniradiatae Woolly pine needle aphid

Data Maturity

Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.